|
China
The 2022 Winter Olympics Open
On Friday, Chinese President Xi Jinping declared the 2022 Beijing Winter Olympic Games open. Thirty-four countries have sent government delegations to participate. Some countries are not sending delegates due to COVID-19, while others have declared a diplomatic boycott to protest ongoing human rights abuses in China. The most notable world leader to attend the opening ceremony is Russian President Vladimir Putin. Both Xi and Putin express opposition towards politicizing the Winter Games, with a spokesperson stating that once the Olympic torch as been lit, all “boycott banter” will diminish.
This map depicts which countries have sent diplomats to the 2022 Beijing Winter Olympics as well as those countries which have chosen to boycott the games, not send delegates with no stated reason, or not participate due to COVID-19. Click on the map to learn more.
|
|
|
Ghana
ECOWAS Emergency Summit
The Economic Council of West African States (ECOWAS), West Africa’s regional bloc, held an emergency summit Thursday in Accra, Ghana to address to a series of recent coups that have affected the region. The 15-nation body committed troops to Guinea-Bissau to stabilize the country days after a February 1st failed overthrow attempt. This round of deliberations was initiated after a January 24th military coup in Burkina Faso, preceded by the September 2021 deposition of President Alpha Conde in Guinea and coups in Mali in September 2020 and May 2021. The Guinea-Bissau government described this week’s attack as “well-funded and tightly planned” and suggested it may have had links to the international drug trade, as the country serves as a major transit point for Latin American cocaine headed to Europe.
This map depicts West African countries that experienced coups or attempt in the last 18 months. Click on the map to learn more.
|
|
|
|
Graphic Source: Barron’s
__________________________________________
|
|
World
Mapping Methane
New research is providing maps of methane leaks around the world using satellite imagery. Methane, a greenhouse gas released by oil and natural gas drilling, and a fuel it its own right, is a major driver of climate change. Over 100 countries have promised to reduce their emissions by 2030. The findings suggest some plumes of methane can stretch up to 200 miles. Turkmenistan, Russia, and the United States were identified as the countries with the largest leaks. This data only accounts for methane released from land facilities, with imagery being difficult to capture in places with high altitudes or dense cloud cover. However, methane emissions are typically very difficult to detect; satellite imagery of methane leaks is a step towards finding and cutting emissions.
This map depicts major gas pipelines and methane leaks, as measured from satellites in space. Click on the map to learn more.
|
|
|
|
|
|
Q: Which U.S. city, often regarded as the international capital of urban farming, is home to the world’s largest rooftop soil farms?
A: New York City
Rooftop farms provide immense benefits to metropolitan cities by reducing greenhouse gas emissions, providing shading, and reducing the urban heat island. In NYC, urban rooftop farms grow thousands of pounds of organic produce every year. Brooklyn Grange is the leading rooftop farm in the U.S. and hosts the world’s largest rooftop soil farms. The giant urban rooftop farm builds green spaces, hosts educational programs, and widens access to locally grown produce to residents across NYC. Their rooftops total 5.6 acres with 135,000 sq ft (12,500 sq m) of cultivated green space and yield over 100,000 pounds of organically grown produce every year.
Source
|
|
|
|
|
Q: Which volcano sits atop the Uganda-Kenya border and is the oldest and largest solitary volcanic mountain in East Africa?
Stay tuned for the answer to today’s question in Monday’s DailyGeo.
|
|
|
|
|
AGS is accepting DailyGeo GeoQuestion suggestions.
Write to ags@americangeo.org with any ideas!
Please include GeoQuestions in the subject line, along with your answer and source.
|
|
|
|
DailyGeo is a daily digital communication created by AGS for the geography community. Feel free to share and encourage others to become part of the community too!
Copyright © 2021 American Geographical Society, All rights reserved.
We understand this might not be for everyone. Although we would hate to see you go, you can unsubscribe here.
How are we doing? We want to hear your feedback on the DailyGeo – what are we doing right and what should we be doing differently. Talk to us by emailing ags@americangeo.org.
|
|
|
|
|
