Presented by E. Duarte – OVSICORI-UNA – Costa Rica 23 Jun 2004 – Alexandria VA, USA

Volcanic Ash, Tourism and Aviation in Costa Rica.

International Airports C.R.International passengers (regular and non regular) Towards and

from North América and Central América 1999-2003

0200000400000600000800000

1000000120000014000001600000

1999 2000 2001 2002 2003

years

pas

sen

ger

s

North América

Central América

The facts:

1. Five explosive volcanoes. Three of them 35 km around the Intl airport.

2. 1.8m people visiting as tourists every year. 1.4m using 3 air routes.

3. Two air routes parallel to the volcanic axis.

The volcanoes:

Dotted lines correspond to observations made in the past

for extraordinary events. There is a great variability

within the activity characteristics. Tradewinds

prevail most of the year, although wind inversion must

be considered for shorts periods of time.

Only three air routes (straight lines in yellow) were considered in this case. Movements to the Caribbean and South America were ignored. Notice the strong parallel between G/UG 440 / A/UA02 and the volcanic axis.

The conclusions:

1. Meteorological, volcanological and aviation communities in Costa Rica must work together in the near future to ensure safety for passengers as for communities living near volcanoes.

2. There is a clear need for joint efforts to produce contingency plans to diminish negative effects of volcanic ash in the aviation industry.

3. Long term plans should include reinforcing conditions of regional airports so to receive re-routed flights in case of augmented volcanic plumes.

4. Inter-institutional work is neccesary to study, understand and respond properly to a volcanic crisis producing threatening ash clouds.

THANK YOU