Matthew Gilbertson-Tortugas Team 1

Mission 2008 Webpage

Links
Tortugas Team 1 Website
My schedule
Our definition of an A
Climate research
Economic Information
Galapagos Map
Current Galapagos Weather
Click here to see a clickable map of the islands

Climatology Research

  • Humboldt current carries cold water northward from the south pole region
  • This keeps the west coast of S.A. temperate and dry
  • water circulates westward and brings cold water to Galapagos
  • trade winds push water, create upwellings of colder water from great depths
Oceanography
 Climate
 Seasons
  • 2 seasons:
    1. Dry ("garua"):  July-Dec; fog and mist hang on higher elevations
    2. Hot and Wet: Jan-Jun (March and April wettest)
  • During December, trade winds slacken, so west-flowing current slows
    • Upwellings stop, warm water comes => warm air
    • temperature inversion on land stops, allows warm, moist air to rise and condense => some rain
  • During an El Niño season, warm water delivered from the west => warm air => Galapagos receive heavy rains
  • Vegetation fluorishes from heavy rains, so all land animals fluorish
  • But warm water stops upwellings, so marine life suffers
    • El Niño: good for terrestrial life, detrimental to marine life
    • La Niña: good for marine life, detrimental to terrestrial life
Source:geo.cornell.edu

Ecuadorian Economic Information:
  • Budget:
    • Revenue: $6.908 billion
    • Expenditures: $6.594 billion
  • Debt: 53.7% of GDP
  • Exports: $6.073 billion
  • Imports: $6.22 billion
  • Economic partners: US 41.5%, Colombia 5.6%, Germany 5.5%, South Korea 5.5%
  • External debt: $15.69 billion
Source: CIA.gov

Trade

  • Ecuador adopted the US dollar as national currency in 2003 and the economy is expected to improve after the major recession of 2003.
  • Ecuador's GDP: $24.417 billion.
  • The US is Ecuador's principal trading partner:
    • 38% of all Ecuadorian exports go to the US
    • 11.6% of imports originate in the US.
  • Primary exports to US: oil, banana, shrimp, flowers, tuna, cacao, wood, jewelry, pineapple, coffee, furniture, mangos, fruits, and vegetables
  • Primary imports from US: cellular phones, corn, soy oil, printers, phone parts, computers parts, construction machinery, tubes, wheat, and cotton.
  • Ecuador earns $5.03 billion annually in exports, but spends $6.41 billion on imports.
  • US represents 41.8% of the total foreign investment.
  • In 2002, the world's investment in Ecuador was $1.275 billion dollars, which constituted 5.2% of the economy.
Source: Ecuador.org

More info


97% of the Galapagos land area has National Park status. The human population as more than doubled in the last 10 years. Number of foreign plant and animal species on the islands has grown: 71 (1977) to 260 (2003). Population increased at an average annual rate of 5.9% between 1982 and 1990. 1999 population: 16,000. 70% of the islands' adult inhabitants in 1999 were migrants from the mainland.

Total number of visitors to the islands: 17,500 (1980), 71,500 (2000). The islands get only 7.6% of tourism income. 90% of the rest goes to the two airlines and cruise ships.

(table taken from here)
According to Table 5, over 65% of the revenue of the Galapagos is generated by tourism, more than 95% of the tourism income comes from cruise ships. (GIP=Gross Island Product).

Projected increase in economic activity corresponding to a 10% increase in tourism to the islands:


(table taken from here)
For example, a 10% increase in tourism on the islands will likely result in a 1% increase in commerce on San Cristobal and a 4.3% increase on Santa Cruz. The economy of Santa Cruz would benefit from increased tourism.

(table taken from here)
For example, a 10% increase in tourism is expected to generate a 5.02% increase in migration to Santa Cruz.

Source: http://bll.epnet.com

The background image was taken from here
Last updated: 3:40pm October 30, 2004