Sismicidad histórica e instrumental del Caribe de Costa Rica

Abstract

The Caribbean region of Costa Rica usually was considered by geophysicists and in the Costa Rican Seismic Code as a low seismic potential zone, specially for events with magnitudes greater than 7.0. The April 22, 1991 earthquake has demonstrated the contrary. A review of the historical and instrumental seismicity of the Caribbean border of Costa Rica and NW Panamá, shows that this region was the setting of important earthquakes during present and last centuries. ln particular, we suggest that the May 7, 1822 earthquake was, before the l99l event, the previous great thrust shock in this region.