11 Nov

Germany: Record COVID Cases Recorded









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Germany
Record COVID Cases Recorded
More than 50,000 daily COVID cases have been reported by German authorities, a record number for the country once praised for its COVID response. The Robert Koch Institute documented 50,196 new cases, up from 33,949 daily cases a week earlier. Rates of infection have risen so quickly hospitals in affected regions are being overwhelmed, and planned surgeries are being cancelled so doctors and nurses can focus on COVID patients. The German government plans to launch new measures to combat the virus and control the outbreaks, but vaccine skepticism has caused the number of new patients seeking immunization to slow.
 
This map depicts the number of COVID cases detected in Germany per 100,000 people. Click on the map to learn more.

Further Reading: CNBC, BBC, Reuters, The New York Times
Graphic Source: Barron’s
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Tuvalu
Sinking Country Begs for Action
The foreign minister of the Pacific island nation of Tuvalu recorded a speech that was presented at the COP26 Climate Conference on Tuesday, begging for immediate action on climate change and proposing legal ways to keep ownership of a submerged country should the worst case scenario occur. Tuvalu is a small chain of islands with a highest point of 14.8ft (4.5m) above sea level. Climate change has increased sea level rise, placing this small nation at great risk. Since 1993, sea levels have risen about 0.2in (0.5cm) annually. Previously dry parts of Tuvalu have already been inundated. The speech was filmed while the foreign minister was standing dressed in a suit in knee deep water in a location that was once dry land.

This map depicts the location of the small country of Tuvalu, which has a population of 11,000. Click on the map to learn more.

Graphic Source: China Daily
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England
Mammals Found in the Thames
The River Thames in England was declared biologically dead in 1957. However, results from the Zoological Society of London’s 2021 biological survey reveal that seahorses, eels, seals and sharks are living in the Thames today. The survey also found significant long-term improvements in water quality as a result of updated sewage treatment methods. However, 95 miles (153 km) of the river is suffering from rising levels of nitrate from industrial runoff and sewage discharges, and plastic and micro plastic pollution remains a major challenge. Various fish species have also been declining in tidal areas of the Thames. 

This map depicts the location of reported mammal sitings in the Thames. Click on the map to learn more.

Yesterday’s Answer

Q: Glaciers require very specific climatic conditions for their survival. Which continent is the only continent where glaciers are nonexistent? 

A: Australia
Glaciers are found above the snow line – regions with high snowfall winters and cooler summers – where more snow can accumulate on glaciers in the winter than is melted away in the summer. For this reason, most glaciers are found in mountainous areas or the polar regions. However, the snow line occurs at different altitudes in different regions. In Washington State the snow line is about 5,500 ft (1,600 m) while in Sub-Saharan Africa, it’s over 16,700 ft (5,100 m). In colder, drier climates, glaciers cannot survive with minimal snowfall, which is why glaciers don’t exist in all cold regions. 

Source

Today’s Question


Q: The Caribbean is home to about 700 islands. At almost 43,000 sq mi (111,000 sq km) what is largest island country in the region? 
 

Stay tuned for the answer to today’s question in tomorrow’s DailyGeo.

 

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