The Central American Dry Corridor (CADC) is a sub-region in the isthmus that is relatively drier than the rest of the territory. Traditional delineations of the CADC’s boundaries start at the Pacific coast of southern Mexico, stretching south through Central America’s Pacific coast down to northwestern Costa Rica (Guanacaste province). Using drought indices (Standardized Precipitation Index, Modified Rainfall Anomaly Index, Palmer Drought Severity Index, Palmer Hydrological Drought Index, Palmer Drought Z-Index and the Reconnaissance Drought Index) along with a definition of aridity as the ratio of potential evapotranspiration (representing demand of water from the atmosphere) over precipitation (representing the supply of water), we proposed a CADC delineation that changes for normal, dry and wet years. The identification of areas that change their classification during extremely dry conditions is important because these areas may indicate the location of future expansion of aridity associated with climate change. In the same way, the delineation of the CADC during wet extremes allows the identification of locations that remain part of the CADC even during the wettest years and that may require special attention from the authorities.

Central America has suffered the impact of several extreme hydrometeorological events, among which drought stands out. This has had adverse effects of different kinds in the region known as the Central American Dry Corridor (CSC, in Spanish). The objective of this work was to describe the impacts that agriculture, livestock and economy of the CSC countries have suffered due to droughts: agricultural, hydrological and socioeconomic. A review of primary and secondary sources was carried out, such as scientific articles, press reports and studies reports from national and international institutions. The most recurrent impacts are at the level of basic grains and cattle, also due in part to the ENSO (El Niño-Southern Oscillation) phenomenon. Because the CSC is a region with high vulnerability to drought and other extreme hydrometeorological events, it is necessary to carry out an adequate characterization of the CSC taking as a baseline similar studies like this one, that orginate a discussion process for the design and implementation of strategies and anticipated public policies of adaptation and mitigation of the drought in the CSC and therefore, lead to improve the quality of life of its population.

Desde 1979, el Centro de Investigaciones Geofísicas (CIGEFI) de la Universidad de Costa Rica (UCR) ha evolucionado constantemente hasta convertirse en un referente regional de la Geofísica. Esto ha sido facilitado por diversos actores, investigadores, y colaboradores, tanto propios como de otras afiliaciones. El objetivo de este trabajo fue utilizar las publicaciones elaboradas por el CIGEFI para describir y visualizar las redes sociales de este proceso para el período 1979-2015, mostrando los actores involucrados, las ego-redes más influyentes, la evolución de las redes en tres períodos (1979-1990, 1991-2002 y 2003-2015) para mayor facilidad de procesamiento de la información y las afiliaciones. Se calcularon las medidas de centralidad de grado, cercanía, lejanía y mediación, y se realizaron cinco depuraciones de cada red; para ello, se suprimieron de una a cinco relaciones y actores en cada una. Se concluyó que el trabajo en red fue fundamental para el CIGEFI, pues permitió la integración de un equipo y un abordaje entre distintas disciplinas, clave en los procesos de investigación y toma de decisiones.