Central America Geology, Resources and Hazards

An integrated treatment of the principal fields of classical and applied geosciences of Central America, this authoritative two-volume monograph treats the region as a whole, exploring geology, earth resources and geo-hazards across political boundaries. It reviews the published literature, and supplements it with an abundance of information from ongoing investigations and internal reports.The compendium is a result of four years’ collaborative work by the editors and more than ninety experts from eighteen countries. It is aimed at professionals, academics and students in the fields of geology, geography, biology, and engineering at the local, regional and international level. In a region which is rich in geological resources and where natural disasters are frequent, the monograph is a solid base for local and international institutions concerned with land-use, infrastructure, water and energy resources, and mining, as well as with hazard reduction and disaster prevention.

VOLUME 1 EDITOR’S FOREWORD I. REGIONAL OVERVIEW GENERAL INTRODUCTION 1. Geographical, social, economic, and environmental framework and developments 2. History of geology Gregorio Escalante and Gerardo J. Soto II. GENERAL GEOLOGY GEOMORPHOLOGY 3. Geomorphology and physiographic provinces 4. Volcanism and volcanic landforms 5. Karst landscapes 6. Glacial geology and geomorphology 7. Coastal morphology and coral reefs TECTONICS AND GEODYNAMICS 8. Overview of plate tectonic history and its unresolved tectonic problems 9. Convergent margin tectonics: A marine perspective 10. Crustal structure 11. Structural geology: From local elements to regional synthesis 12. Seismicity and neotectonic STRATIGRAPHY AND PALEONTOLOGY 13. Stratigraphy and geologic history 14. Onshore to offshore tephrostratigraphy and marine ash layer diagenesis 15. Late Quaternary lake and swamp sediments: Recorders of climate and environment 16. Vertebrate paleontology 17. Invertebrate paleontology Micropaleontology IGNEOUS AND METAMORPHIC PETROLOGY 19. Metamorphism and metamorphic rocks 20. Oceanic igneous complexes 21. Intrusive rocks 22. Petrology and geochemistry of lavas 23. Petrogenesis of ignimbrites VOLUME 2 III. GEOLOGICAL RESOURCES HYDROGEOLOGY AND GROUNDWATER RESOURCES 24. Hydrogeology 25. Water availability, use and valuation GEOTHERMICS AND GEOTHERMAL RESOURCES 26. High and low enthalpy geothermal resources and potentials 27. Hydrogeochemical and isotope composition of geothermal fluids 28. Gas geochemistry of volcanic and hydrothermal fluids 29. Geothermal resources for development – valuation, present use and future opportunities FOSSIL FUEL AND MINERAL RESOURCES 30. Petroleum geology 31. Coal and peat resources 32. Metallic mineral resources 33. Industrial minerals GEOLOGICAL HERITAGE RESOURCES 34. Geology-related tourism for sustainable development IV. GEOLOGICAL HAZARDS SEISMIC HAZARDS AND MONITORING 35. Seismic hazard and microzonation 36. Seismic monitoring 37. Strong motion monitoring VOLCANIC HAZARDS AND MONITORING 38. Volcanic activity, hazards, and monitoring 39. Volcano seismology LANDSLIDES AND TSUNAMIS 40. Earthquake-induced landslides 41. Earthquake triggered tsunamis Index of formal and non-formal geological units List of contributors List of detailed contents List of reviewers List of acknowledgements

Jochen Bundschuh (1960, Germany), completed his PhD on numerical modelling of heat transport in aquifers in Tübingen in 1990. His specializations are geothermics, subsurface- and surface hydrology and integrated water resources management and connected disciplines. In 2001 he was appointed within the Integrated Expert Program of CIM (GTZ/BA), Frankfurt, Germany and works within the framework of the German governmental cooperation in mission to Costa Rica at the Instituto Costarricense de Electricidad (ICE), where he focuses on the sustainable use of surface and groundwater resources for power generation. He is also a professor of the Royal Institute of Technology, Stockholm, Sweden. Prof. Bundschuh is editor of the books "Geothermal Energy Resources for Developing Countries" (2002) and "Natural Arsenic in Groundwater" (2005) and author of over 60 international scientific publications. In 2006 he was elected Vice-president of the International Society of Groundwater for Sustainable Development (ISGSD). Guillermo E. Alvarado (1960, Costa Rica), is a geologist working for more than 20 years in different fields of volcanology andQuaternary geology in Costa Rica and other Central American countries. In 1985 he became the chief of the Seismology and Seismic Engineering section of the Institute of Electricity of Costa Rica (ICE), now the Seismic and Volcanic Hazards and Monitoring Unit. Dr. Alvarado is also professor of Volcanology and Geoarcheology at the University of Costa Rica. Dr. Alvarado is author of eight books including "The Volcanoes of Costa Rica" (in Spanish; 2nd edition 2000), "Costa Rica: Land of Volcanoes", (2nd edition 2005), a book on Igneous Geomorphology (1990), and a book on Natural History (1994). He is co-author of the Geological Map of Costa Rica (Tournon and Alvarado1997), and the Tectonic Atlas of Costa Rica (Denyer et al. 2003).