What kind of volcano is Arenal?

Arenal is classified as a Stratovolcano in Costa Rica. Its tectonic setting is Subduction zone / Continental crust (> 25 km).

How is seismicity near Arenal monitored here?

Earthquakes within 50 km of the crater are aggregated from 18 seismic networks and checked against a swarm rule that compares the current rate with this volcano's own 30-day background. Ash advisories come from the VAAC centres that are connected.

Costa RicaNicoya and the Central Valley

Lush rainforest and conical peak of Arenal Volcano in Costa Rica

Photo:Olger Aragónvia Smithsonian GVP

Volcano Dossier•GVP #345033

10.46°N, 84.70°W

Erupted since 2000

Costa Rica→

Volcano Arenal

Thought to be extinct until July 1968, when an eruption buried three villages and killed 87 people. Arenal then erupted continuously for 42 years, becoming Costa Rica's best-known volcano and the centre of a national park, before falling quiet in 2010.

Last eruption

2010

Erupted since 2000

Summit

1.7 km

Stratovolcano · Andesite / Basaltic Andesite

Activity

Normal Baseline

0 events (1.0x rate)

Interactive Volcano & Seismicity Map

Seismicity within 50 km radius, active VAAC ash plumes, and tectonic plate boundaries.

Recent seismicity within 50 km

0 events in the last 12 h within 25 km of the crater.

Time	Magnitude	Epicenter / Place	Distance	Depth
1d ago	M3.0	79 km NW of San José (Costa Rica)	11 km	300 km
2d ago	M3.0	69 km W of San José (Costa Rica)	37 km	52 km
9d ago	M2.9	50 km N of Puntarenas (Costa Rica)	24 km	5 km
1mo ago	M2.8	86 km NW of San José (Costa Rica)	3.1 km	199 km
1mo ago	M3.1	46 km NW of San José (Costa Rica)	44 km	5 km
1mo ago	M2.7	54 km NW of San José (Costa Rica)	36 km	64 km
1mo ago	M3.3	69 km NW of San José (Costa Rica)	35 km	27 km
1mo ago	M2.6	62 km N of San José (Costa Rica)	44 km	152 km
1mo ago	M3.0	69 km W of San José (Costa Rica)	32 km	59 km
2mo ago	M2.8	39 km NW of Puntarenas (Costa Rica)	44 km	10 km
2mo ago	M2.7	49 km N of Puntarenas (Costa Rica)	21 km	10 km
2mo ago	M3.4	88 km NW of San José (Costa Rica)	28 km	46 km
2mo ago	M3.3	79 km N of Alajuela (Costa Rica)	37 km	4 km

Geological & Tectonic Profile

Stratovolcano

Arenal is an active Stratovolcano formed in an active Subduction zone / Continental crust (> 25 km). Dominant lithology: Andesite / Basaltic Andesite.

Edifice TypeStratovolcano

Major rockAndesite / Basaltic Andesite

TectonicsSubduction zone

Volcanic ArcCentral America Volcanic Arc

Volcano Dossier

VN #345033

Official catalogue parameters, coordinates, elevation and geotectonic classification.

CountryCosta Rica

Crater Coordinates10.463°, -84.703°

Summit1.7 km

SubregionCentral America Volcanic Arc

Catalog SourceSmithsonian GVP (#345033)

Authoritative Monitoring Infrastructure

All 18 Networks & VAAC →

Seismic ObservatoryGSN / FDSN

Global Seismographic Network & Regional Centers

Official Portal

ICAO Aviation Ash Center

ICAO Volcanic Ash Advisory Network

International Civil Aviation Organization

VAAC Advisory Desk

Swarm telemetry correlated across 18 networks against a 30-day baseline.Read Science & Physics →

Regional Seismic Profile

Nicoya and the Central Valley

Explore live seismic monitoring, historical danger benchmarks, fault slip models and recurrence intervals for Nicoya and the Central Valley.

Open Regional Hub

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ)

Verified scientific, operational, and emergency protocols

The most recent eruption of Arenal recorded by the Smithsonian Global Volcanism Program was in 2010.

Catalogue: Smithsonian Institution, Global Volcanism Program.Smithsonian GVP profile