Editing Geography of Costa Rica (section)

== Climate ==
[[File:Koppen-Geiger Map CRI present.svg|thumb|300px|Costa Rica map of Köppen climate classification]]The climate is tropical. Hot season (December to April); rainy season (May to November); cooler in highlands.

Because Costa Rica is located between 8 and 12 degrees north of the [[Equator]], the climate is [[Tropical climate|tropical]] year round. However, the country has many [[microclimate]]s depending on elevation, rainfall, topography, and by the geography of each particular region.

Costa Rica's seasons are defined by how much rain falls during a particular period. The year can be split into two periods, the dry season known to the residents as summer ({{lang|es|verano}}), and the rainy season, known locally as winter ({{lang|es|invierno}}). The "summer" or dry season goes from December to April, and "winter" or rainy season goes from May to November, which almost coincides with the [[Atlantic hurricane season]], and during this time, it rains constantly in some regions.<ref>{{cite web|language=es-ES|title=viajes a Costa Rica|url=https://archive.org/details/@jose_merchan/|website=archive.org - ES}}<!-- auto-translated by Module:CS1 translator --></ref>

The location receiving the most rain is the Caribbean slopes of the [[Cordillera Central (Costa Rica)|Cordillera Central]] mountains, with an annual rainfall of over {{convert|5000|mm|1|abbr=on}}. Humidity is also higher on the Caribbean side than on the Pacific side. The mean annual temperature on the coastal lowlands is around {{convert|27|°C|0|abbr=on}}, {{convert|20|°C|0|abbr=on}} in the main populated areas of the Cordillera Central, and below {{convert|10|°C|0|abbr=on}} on the summits of the highest mountains.<ref>{{cite web |last=Eggar |first=Marc |title=Climate/Weather |url=http://www.worldheadquarters.com/cr/climate/ |access-date=28 June 2011 |archive-date=23 June 2011 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110623201043/http://www.worldheadquarters.com/cr/climate/ |url-status=dead }}</ref>
{{weather box
| location = Costa Rica
| source = <ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.costaricaguides.com/Climate.html |title=Costa Rica Weather |website=Costa Rica Guides}}</ref>
| metric first = yes
| single line = yes
| Jan high C = 27
| Feb high C = 27
| Mar high C = 28
| Apr high C = 28
| May high C = 27
| Jun high C = 27
| Jul high C = 27
| Aug high C = 27
| Sep high C = 26
| Oct high C = 26
| Nov high C = 26
| Dec high C = 26
| Jan low C = 17
| Feb low C = 18
| Mar low C = 18
| Apr low C = 18
| May low C = 18
| Jun low C = 18
| Jul low C = 18
| Aug low C = 18
| Sep low C = 17
| Oct low C = 18
| Nov low C = 18
| Dec low C = 18
| Jan precipitation mm = 6.3
| Feb precipitation mm = 10.2
| Mar precipitation mm = 13.8
| Apr precipitation mm = 79.9
| May precipitation mm = 267.6
| Jun precipitation mm = 280.1
| Jul precipitation mm = 181.5
| Aug precipitation mm = 276.9
| Sep precipitation mm = 355.1
| Oct precipitation mm = 330.6
| Nov precipitation mm = 135.5
| Dec precipitation mm = 33.5
| precipitation colour = green
| Jan percentsun = 40
| Feb percentsun = 37
| Mar percentsun = 39
| Apr percentsun = 33
| May percentsun = 25
| Jun percentsun = 20
| Jul percentsun = 21
| Aug percentsun = 22
| Sep percentsun = 20
| Oct percentsun = 22
| Nov percentsun = 25
| Dec percentsun = 34
}}

{{Weather box
| width = auto
| location = San José, Costa Rica ([[Juan Santamaría International Airport]])
| metric first = yes
| single line = yes
| collapsed = Yes
| Jan record high C = 31.5
| Feb record high C = 33.3
| Mar record high C = 33.4
| Apr record high C = 34.5
| May record high C = 32.8
| Jun record high C = 32.1
| Jul record high C = 31.7
| Aug record high C = 32.0
| Sep record high C = 32.0
| Oct record high C = 31.4
| Nov record high C = 30.3
| Dec record high C = 31.5
| Jan high C = 28.2
| Feb high C = 29.1
| Mar high C = 29.9
| Apr high C = 30.3
| May high C = 28.8
| Jun high C = 28.2
| Jul high C = 28.2
| Aug high C = 28.3
| Sep high C = 27.8
| Oct high C = 27.1
| Nov high C = 27.2
| Dec high C = 27.9
| year high C = 28.4
| Jan mean C = 22.6
| Feb mean C = 23.0
| Mar mean C = 23.5
| Apr mean C = 23.7
| May mean C = 22.9
| Jun mean C = 22.5
| Jul mean C = 22.6
| Aug mean C = 22.4
| Sep mean C = 22.0
| Oct mean C = 21.8
| Nov mean C = 21.9
| Dec mean C = 22.3
| year mean C = 22.6
| Jan low C = 18.5
| Feb low C = 18.7
| Mar low C = 18.8
| Apr low C = 19.1
| May low C = 19.2
| Jun low C = 19.0
| Jul low C = 19.0
| Aug low C = 18.8
| Sep low C = 18.3
| Oct low C = 18.5
| Nov low C = 18.3
| Dec low C = 18.3
| year low C = 
| Jan record low C = 11.7
| Feb record low C = 5
| Mar record low C = 8
| Apr record low C = 14.9
| May record low C = 14.9
| Jun record low C = 15.8
| Jul record low C = 11
| Aug record low C = 16.0
| Sep record low C = 15.8
| Oct record low C = 15.5
| Nov record low C = 9
| Dec record low C = 2
| rain colour = green
| Jan rain mm = 6.3
| Feb rain mm = 10.2
| Mar rain mm = 13.8
| Apr rain mm = 79.9
| May rain mm = 267.6
| Jun rain mm = 280.1
| Jul rain mm = 181.5
| Aug rain mm = 276.9
| Sep rain mm = 355.1
| Oct rain mm = 330.6
| Nov rain mm = 135.5
| Dec rain mm = 33.5
| unit rain days = 0.1 mm
| Jan rain days = 3
| Feb rain days = 3
| Mar rain days = 5
| Apr rain days = 10
| May rain days = 23
| Jun rain days = 22
| Jul rain days = 20
| Aug rain days = 22
| Sep rain days = 26
| Oct rain days = 25
| Nov rain days = 17
| Dec rain days = 8
| Jan humidity = 68
| Feb humidity = 68
| Mar humidity = 66
| Apr humidity = 70
| May humidity = 77
| Jun humidity = 83
| Jul humidity = 80
| Aug humidity = 83
| Sep humidity = 85
| Oct humidity = 87
| Nov humidity = 79
| Dec humidity = 74
| Jan sun = 285.2
| Feb sun = 266.0
| Mar sun = 282.1
| Apr sun = 240.0
| May sun = 182.9
| Jun sun = 144.0
| Jul sun = 151.9
| Aug sun = 158.1
| Sep sun = 147.0
| Oct sun = 161.2
| Nov sun = 177.0
| Dec sun = 244.9
| year sun = 2440.3
| source 1 = [[Deutscher Wetterdienst]]<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.dwd.de/DWD/klima/beratung/ak/ak_787620_kt.pdf |title=Klimatafel von San José (Int. Flugh.) / Costa Rica |publisher=Federal Ministry of Transport and Digital Infrastructure |access-date=September 17, 2016 |archive-date=31 March 2019 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190331021113/https://www.dwd.de/DWD/klima/beratung/ak/ak_787620_kt.pdf |url-status=live }}</ref>
| source 2 = NOAA (sun 1961–1990)<ref name = SanJoséNOAA>{{cite web |url=ftp://ftp.atdd.noaa.gov/pub/GCOS/WMO-Normals/TABLES/REG_IV/CS/78762.TXT |title=Juan Santamaria Climate Normals 1961–1990 |publisher=[[National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration]] |access-date=July 26, 2017 |archive-date=31 October 2020 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20201031204957/ftp://ftp.atdd.noaa.gov/pub/GCOS/WMO-Normals/TABLES/REG_IV/CS/78762.TXT |url-status=live }}</ref>
| source = 
}}

{{Weather box
| width = auto
| location = [[Limón International Airport]], Costa Rica
| single line = yes
| metric first = yes
| collapsed = Yes
| Jan record high C = 32.9
| Feb record high C = 33.4
| Mar record high C = 33.9
| Apr record high C = 34.5
| May record high C = 35.0
| Jun record high C = 35.0
| Jul record high C = 33.7
| Aug record high C = 34.3
| Sep record high C = 33.8
| Oct record high C = 34.5
| Nov record high C = 34.5
| Dec record high C = 33.0
| year record high C = 
| Jan high C = 28.8
| Feb high C = 29.1
| Mar high C = 29.7
| Apr high C = 30.1
| May high C = 30.4
| Jun high C = 30.3
| Jul high C = 29.6
| Aug high C = 30.1
| Sep high C = 30.6
| Oct high C = 30.4
| Nov high C = 29.4
| Dec high C = 28.9
| year high C = 
| Jan mean C = 24.8
| Feb mean C = 24.9
| Mar mean C = 25.5
| Apr mean C = 26.1
| May mean C = 26.6
| Jun mean C = 26.6
| Jul mean C = 26.1
| Aug mean C = 26.3
| Sep mean C = 26.6
| Oct mean C = 26.4
| Nov mean C = 25.7
| Dec mean C = 25.1
| year mean C = 
| Jan low C = 20.7
| Feb low C = 20.7
| Mar low C = 21.2
| Apr low C = 22.0
| May low C = 22.8
| Jun low C = 22.9
| Jul low C = 22.6
| Aug low C = 22.5
| Sep low C = 22.5
| Oct low C = 22.3
| Nov low C = 21.9
| Dec low C = 21.2
| year low C = 
| Jan record low C = 12.9
| Feb record low C = 16.4
| Mar record low C = 15.2
| Apr record low C = 17.4
| May record low C = 17.8
| Jun record low C = 20.0
| Jul record low C = 16.6
| Aug record low C = 19.0
| Sep record low C = 18.9
| Oct record low C = 19.2
| Nov record low C = 15.8
| Dec record low C = 13.2
| year record low C = 
| rain colour = green
| Jan rain mm = 319.7
| Feb rain mm = 237.3
| Mar rain mm = 208.5
| Apr rain mm = 263.0
| May rain mm = 333.5
| Jun rain mm = 289.0
| Jul rain mm = 426.3
| Aug rain mm = 303.2
| Sep rain mm = 142.1
| Oct rain mm = 207.1
| Nov rain mm = 400.6
| Dec rain mm = 445.0
| unit rain days = 1.0 mm
| Jan rain days = 17
| Feb rain days = 14
| Mar rain days = 14
| Apr rain days = 14
| May rain days = 16
| Jun rain days = 16
| Jul rain days = 20
| Aug rain days = 16
| Sep rain days = 11
| Oct rain days = 13
| Nov rain days = 17
| Dec rain days = 18
| Jan humidity = 87
| Feb humidity = 86
| Mar humidity = 85
| Apr humidity = 85
| May humidity = 87
| Jun humidity = 87
| Jul humidity = 89
| Aug humidity = 87
| Sep humidity = 86
| Oct humidity = 87
| Nov humidity = 88
| Dec humidity = 88
| year humidity = 87
| Jan sun = 310.0/2
| Feb sun = 152.6
| Mar sun = 179.8
| Apr sun = 342.0/2
| May sun = 164.3
| Jun sun = 270.0/2
| Jul sun = 117.8
| Aug sun = 145.7
| Sep sun = 318.0/2
| Oct sun = 164.3
| Nov sun = 270.0/2
| Dec sun = 142.6
| year sun = 
| Jand sun = 5.0
| Febd sun = 5.4
| Mard sun = 5.8
| Aprd sun = 5.7
| Mayd sun = 5.3
| Jund sun = 4.5
| Juld sun = 3.8
| Augd sun = 4.7
| Sepd sun = 5.3
| Octd sun = 5.3
| Novd sun = 4.5
| Decd sun = 4.6
| yeard sun = 5.0
| source 1 = [[Instituto Meteorologico Nacional]] (precipitation 1941–2012, temperatures 1970–2012, sun 1969–2012, humidity 1970–2012)<ref name=PuertoLimonIMN>{{cite web
 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20161031021622/https://www.imn.ac.cr/documents/10179/20909/Descripci%C3%B3n%2Bdel%2Bclima%2Bdel%2BCant%C3%B3n%2Bde%2BLim%C3%B3n 
 |archive-date=31 October 2016 
 |url=https://www.imn.ac.cr/documents/10179/20909/Descripci%C3%B3n+del+clima+del+Cant%C3%B3n+de+Lim%C3%B3n 
 |language=es 
 |title=Descripción del clima: Cantón de Limón 
 |publisher=Instituto Meteorologico Nacional 
 |access-date=30 October 2016 
 |url-status=dead 
}}</ref>
| source 2 = Meteo Climat (extremes, 1941–present)<ref name = puertolimonmeteoclimat>
{{cite web 
| url = http://meteo-climat-bzh.dyndns.org/index.php?page=stati&id=956
| title = Station Puerto Limon
| publisher = Meteo Climat 
| language = fr 
| access-date = 6 November 2016}}</ref>
| date = August 2010
}}

{{weather box
| width = auto
| location = Liberia, Costa Rica
| metric first = yes
| single line = Yes
| collapsed = Yes
| Jan high C = 33.4
| Feb high C = 34.4
| Mar high C = 35.4
| Apr high C = 35.9
| May high C = 33.9
| Jun high C = 32.0
| Jul high C = 32.1
| Aug high C = 32.1
| Sep high C = 31.3
| Oct high C = 30.9
| Nov high C = 31.6
| Dec high C = 32.5
| year high C = 33.0
| Jan mean C = 25.8
| Feb mean C = 26.7
| Mar mean C = 27.3
| Apr mean C = 28.5
| May mean C = 28.7
| Jun mean C = 28.0
| Jul mean C = 27.6
| Aug mean C = 27.0
| Sep mean C = 27.2
| Oct mean C = 27.0
| Nov mean C = 26.2
| Dec mean C = 25.7
| year mean C = 27.1
| Jan low C = 20.7
| Feb low C = 21.1
| Mar low C = 21.6
| Apr low C = 22.7
| May low C = 23.4
| Jun low C = 23.2
| Jul low C = 22.8
| Aug low C = 22.6
| Sep low C = 22.4
| Oct low C = 22.3
| Nov low C = 21.5
| Dec low C = 21.0
| year low C = 22.1
| rain colour = green
| Jan rain mm = 1.3
| Feb rain mm = 1.6
| Mar rain mm = 4.1
| Apr rain mm = 23.9
| May rain mm = 194.1
| Jun rain mm = 245.6
| Jul rain mm = 153.3
| Aug rain mm = 209.4
| Sep rain mm = 346.3
| Oct rain mm = 310.0
| Nov rain mm = 98.2
| Dec rain mm = 12.3
| unit rain days = 1.0 mm
| Jan rain days = 0
| Feb rain days = 0
| Mar rain days = 0
| Apr rain days = 1
| May rain days = 9
| Jun rain days = 14
| Jul rain days = 10
| Aug rain days = 12
| Sep rain days = 17
| Oct rain days = 16
| Nov rain days = 6
| Dec rain days = 2
| Jan humidity = 65.3
| Feb humidity = 62.2
| Mar humidity = 60.5
| Apr humidity = 62.0
| May humidity = 73.2
| Jun humidity = 81.9
| Jul humidity = 78.4
| Aug humidity = 80.9
| Sep humidity = 85.4
| Oct humidity = 86.1
| Nov humidity = 80.4
| Dec humidity = 72.1
| year humidity = 74.0
| Jan sun = 297.6
| Feb sun = 276.9
| Mar sun = 303.8
| Apr sun = 267.0
| May sun = 204.6
| Jun sun = 168.0
| Jul sun = 186.0
| Aug sun = 182.9
| Sep sun = 159.0
| Oct sun = 170.5
| Nov sun = 204.0
| Dec sun = 260.4
| year sun = 2680.7
| Jand sun = 9.6
| Febd sun = 9.8
| Mard sun = 9.8
| Aprd sun = 8.9
| Mayd sun = 6.6
| Jund sun = 5.6
| Juld sun = 6.0
| Augd sun = 5.9
| Sepd sun = 5.3
| Octd sun = 5.5
| Novd sun = 6.8
| Decd sun = 8.4
| yeard sun = 7.4
| source 1 = Instituto Meteorologico Nacional (precipitation 1957–2012, temperatures 1977–2013, sun 1976–2012, humidity 1976–2013)<ref name=IMNliberia>{{cite web
 |url=http://www.imn.ac.cr/IMN/MainAdmin.aspx?__EVENTTARGET=ClimaCiudad&CIUDAD=4 
 |language=es 
 |title=Datos Climaticos – Liberia 
 |publisher=Instituto Meteorologico Nacional 
 |access-date=4 December 2012 
 |url-status=dead 
 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130208044153/http://www.imn.ac.cr/IMN/MainAdmin.aspx?__EVENTTARGET=ClimaCiudad&CIUDAD=4 
 |archive-date= 8 February 2013 
}}</ref><ref name=IMN2liberia>{{cite web
 |url=http://www.imn.ac.cr/publicaciones/ClimaLib2014.pdf 
 |language=es 
 |title=Descripción del clima: Cantón de Liberia 
 |publisher=Instituto Meteorologico Nacional 
 |access-date=13 April 2015 
 |url-status=dead 
 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150709050412/http://www.imn.ac.cr/publicaciones/ClimaLib2014.pdf 
 |archive-date= 9 July 2015 
}}</ref>
| date = January 2012
}}

=== Climate change ===
Costa Rica is highly vulnerable to extreme weather events, which can be exacerbated by [[climate change]]. The majority of Costa Rica's population (78%) and economic activity (80% of [[Gross domestic product|GDP]]) are concentrated in regions highly vulnerable to various natural hazards, such as floods, landslides, cyclones, storm surges, and rising sea levels.<ref>{{Cite web |last=World Bank |title=Costa Rica |url=https://climateknowledgeportal.worldbank.org/country/costa-rica/vulnerability |access-date=2025-03-03 |website=World Bank Climate Change Knowledge Portal |language=en}}</ref> Sea levels are rising along both of Costa Rica's coasts, increasing the vulnerability of low-lying areas to storm surges and erosion with consequences for fisheries, port infrastructure and tourism.<ref name=":2">{{Cite book |last=World Bank Group |url=https://climateknowledgeportal.worldbank.org/sites/default/files/country-profiles/15989-WB_Costa%20Rica%20Country%20Profile-WEB.pdf |title=Climate Risk Profile: Costa Rica |publisher=World Bank Group |year=2021 |location=Washington}}</ref>

The country is facing increasing temperatures (especially at higher elevations), and changing rainfall patterns resulting in increased risk of drought along the Pacific slope and flooding in all regions of the country.<ref name=":2" /> Increasing temperatures and extreme heat will have major consequences for human health, agriculture (particularly coffee and banana cultivation), water security, tourism, and the country's distinctive biodiversity and ecosystems.<ref>{{Cite journal |last=Stan |first=Kayla |last2=Sanchez-Azofeifa |first2=Arturo |last3=Calvo-Rodriguez |first3=Sofia |last4=Castro-Magnani |first4=Marissa |last5=Chen |first5=Jing |last6=Ludwig |first6=Ralf |last7=Zou |first7=Lidong |date=7 February 2020 |title=Climate change scenarios and projected impacts for forest productivity in Guanacaste Province (Costa Rica): lessons for tropical forest regions |url=http://link.springer.com/10.1007/s10113-020-01602-z |journal=Regional Environmental Change |language=en |volume=20 |issue=1 |doi=10.1007/s10113-020-01602-z |issn=1436-3798}}</ref>

Costa Rica has committed to reducing its [[greenhouse gas]] emissions by 9.11 MtCO2e by 2030 and [[Net-zero emissions|net zero]] by 2050, announced in its National Decarbonisation Plan (NDP).<ref name="Costa Rica">{{Cite web |title=Costa Rica |url=https://climateactiontracker.org/countries/costa-rica/ |access-date=2025-03-03 |website=climateactiontracker.org |language=en}}</ref> According to Climate Action Tracker, Costa Rica has made good progress toward its climate goals.<ref name="Costa Rica"/>