Blog Post #2: Air Currents and Jet Streams

As mentioned in Post #1, Limon receives rain year round. Even in the 'dry' months the area receives over 5" of rain on average.

Rainfall amounts with temperature. Found here: http://www.world-climates.com/city-climate-limon-costa-rica-north-america/ 

Rainfall amounts in Limon have mostly to due with convection.

Diagram showing how convection causes clouds and rainstorms.                                                                                          Found here: http://www.weatherquestions.com/How_do_clouds_form.htm

Costa Rica is surrounded by water on two sides. Since the air over land warms faster than the air over water, the air over Limon rises. The dew point in Limon is relatively high, usually staying within 10 degrees of the temperature, so the rising parcel quickly forms clouds and rain showers. 

Limon sits at 9 degrees north latitude, so it is only indirectly effected by the changes brought during winter in the northern hemisphere. 

Digital image showing the major air masses. This was taken in Spring or Fall. When it is winter in the northern hemisphere, the polar air mass moves farther south, pushing the warmer air masses south as well.                                                        Found here: http://www.weatherquestions.com/What_is_an_air_mass.htm

Winter in the northern hemisphere brings the rainy season. November through January see a rise in average rainfall. This is because the continental polar air mass shifts southward causing the maritime tropical air mass to also shift south. As it does, warm moist air moves across the gulf bringing heavier rains during these months.

The rest of the year is drier except for the huge spike in July. This spike has a lot to do with the movement of the International Convergence Zone (ITCZ)

ITCZ Movement Year Round. The ITCZ is a low pressure zone that promotes heavy rainfall across different areas as it moves north and south of the equator.                                                                                                                                   
(Found at http://www.newmediastudio.org/DataDiscovery/Hurr_ED_Center/Stages_of_Hurricane_Dev/ITCZ/ITCZ.html

As the ITCZ moves north it moves directly over Costa Rica in July, bringing heavy rainfall with it, thus there is a spike in the normal drier months, especially July.

Blog # 1: Average Temperature and Climate

A beach at Limon, Costa Rica, found here

This blog will follow the weather patterns of Puerto Limon, Costa Rica using the weather station at the airport in Limon. The airport sits along the coast about 2 miles south of the city so it should give a reasonably accurate account of weather in Limon.

(Found here)

 Limon is the major port city on the Caribbean side and has a rich history of export agriculture. Since Columbus landed in Limon in 1502, the area has exported cocoa, coffee, bananas and other tropical exports that have driven the local economy for over three hundred years. This agriculture exporting would not be possible without the perfect growing climate. Situated at just below 10° Latitude, Limon sees a year round warm and humid climate, considered a tropical climate similar to other well know Caribbean locations like Jamaica or Puerto Rico. The area very rarely rarely sees temperatures outside of  20° to 30° C (68° - 85° F), as you can see: 

(Courtesy of Weather-and-climate.com, found here)

There is rainfall year round. Hurricanes and tropical depressions are not common, but it can rain for several days straight during storms called temporales del Atlantico. These storms form from September though February as cold polar air pushes warm moisture laden air eastward across the gulf. As the graph below shows, there really is no dry season, as all months see moisture, but the rainy season runs from April / May through November / December with a lull in September. 

Courtesy of World-climates.com, found here.