The Volcano Research Facilities
Smithsonian Institute Research Facilities Research FacilitiesOne of the reasons Arenal is so appealing to a wide range of volcanologists, biologists, botanists and geologists is the combination of constant activity, rich ecosystems and the close proximity of lava flows from various epochs and periods.
Volcanology and Hydrology researchArenal Volcano receives over 5000 millimeters of rain annually. The high rainfall has caused rapid erosion and frequent mudflows and landslides. Smithsonian research projects – and others – have been completed or are ongoing on a variety of topics, including :
The original Smithsonian volcano observatory facilities continue to attract researchers, and not only from the Smithsonian Institute. Scientists studying at the Arenal Observatory Lodge have come from the Smithsonian Institute, the Earthwatch Institute, the Organization of Tropical Studies, OVSICORI (Observatorio Vulcanológico y Sismológico de Costa Rica), the University of California, and other institutions interested in taking advantage of the lodge’s unique volcanic observatory location. Hydrology, Not Just Volcanology The Arenal-Corobicí Hydroelectric Complex is part a large-scale project undertaken by the Costa Rican Electricity Institute (ICE) to harness the huge energy-generating potential of Arenal Lake. The project included construction of two massive dams and the creation of Lake Arenal, a man-made lake covering an area of almost 90 square kilometers. The hydraulic energy of Lake Arenal and its surrounding rivers account for almost 40% of Costa Rica’s energy production |
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1998-2010