IMPACT OF THE HYDROMETEOROLOGICAL EVENTS IN COSTA RICA, PERIOD 2000-2015

Abstract

doi: 10.12957/geouerj.2017.26116

In Costa Rica, the majority of disasters are associated with hydrometeorological events. Therefore, this research aims to present at provincial and cantonal level statistical data on the number of disasters associated with these events, as well as the effects on human lives and housing which occurred during the period 2000-2015. This serves as a basis for assessing the extent to which threats of hydrometeorological origin have occurred over a period of fifteen years and which have been the political and administrative units of the country that more affectations have presented for these events, and clarify which are the most vulnerable territories in the country to hydrometeorological threats. It was necessary to perform an analysis of the climatological characteristics associated with the incidence of hydrometeorological events according to the year and the month during the study period. Finally, a valuation is made of the current state of land use planning and risk assessment in Costa Rica, given the year-on-year increase in economic losses due to disasters.