2 Feb

Tonga: COVID-19 in the Pacific Islands









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Tonga
COVID-19 in the Pacific Islands
Still battered by last month’s massive volcanic eruption and tsunami, the Pacific island nation of Tonga is under lockdown following its first detected COVID-19 infections. Border closures, strict public health measures, and geographic isolation insulated Tonga and nearby countries from the pandemic, with several islands able to inoculate a majority of their citizens before registering any cases. Despite high vaccination rates, the 120,000 people who live on the archipelagos remain vulnerable to COVID-19 and face more complications due to severely limited health care resources, with logistics systems and infrastructure still fragile following the recent eruption and extreme weather events in the region. Additional lockdowns are in place or set to begin in Kiribati, Tonga, Samoa, and the Solomon Islands, which are all experiencing their first outbreaks, and officials in Fiji are weighing containment measures to deal with the Omicron variant.
 
This map depicts recent Covid-19 case counts in the Pacific islands. Click on the map to learn more.

Graphic Source: Time
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Haiti & Dominican Republic
Storm Brings Flooding
Two days of heavy rainfall following a cold front has caused flooding in five provinces in the Dominican Republic and 20 municipalities in neighboring Haiti. Several rivers broke their banks in Haiti, flooding as many as 2,578 houses and leaving 2,500 families in need of temporary shelter. In the Dominican Republic as many as 3,444 homes were flooded and 1,720 people were left displaced. The town of Montecristi recorded 6 in (155.8mm) of rain in a 24 hour period. At least three fatalities were reported in Haiti after the flooding, and one person missing. This storm affected areas that are still trying to recover from the 7.2 magnitude earthquake that hit the country in August.

This map depicts the precipitation amounts over the course of 24 hours on January 30th in Dominican Republic. Click on the map to learn more.

Graphic Source: FloodList
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World
Marine Heat Hits New Records
A new report released in the journal PLOS Climate is showing how the level of heat energy being stored in the world ocean is the most ever recorded. The first time extreme heat was measured in more than 50% of the world’s oceans was 2014, and that percentage has continued to rise in recent years. Extreme marine heat was analyzed by examining historic Hadley Centre Global Sea Ice and Sea Surface Temperature data. The California coast experienced a marine heat wave in 2014-2016 due to an El Niño, which brought about changes in wildlife, caused algae blooms that produced toxins, reduced oxygen, and coincided with drought on the land. Anthropogenic climate change is thought to be a main driver of marine heatwaves, and it is predicted they will continue increasing in frequency and severity.  

This map depicts the distribution of extreme heat in the world ocean throughout different decades since the 1980s. Click on the map to learn more.

Yesterday’s Answer

Q: Q: Where can you find this seemingly perfect circular underwater sinkhole, about 410 ft (125 m) deep, the world’s largest natural formation of its kind? 

A: The Great Blue Hole, Belize
The Great Blue Hole off the eastern coast of Belize was formed by a collapsed limestone cave during the glacial ages thousands of years ago when sea levels were lower. Today, the giant oceanic hole attracts divers from all around the world. The hole is encapsulated by a coral reef, known as “Lighthouse Reef” and is a UNESCO World Heritage Site. The contrast of the water colors shows the shallowness of the light blue water near the reefs compared to the immense depth of the dark blue sinkhole. Divers have pointed out the fascinating wildlife and geologic formations that live beneath the surface, and underwater studies have even helped to reveal more about the ancient Mayan civilization.

Source

Today’s Question


Q: Which European national park, a UNESCO World Heritage Site, is home to 16 interlacing lakes which have waters that change colors depending on the angle of the sun?
 

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

 

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