|
|
|
Ethopia
War Crimes in Tigray
A joint report released by Human Rights Watch (HRW) and Amnesty International has revealed details of a brutal campaign of ethnic cleansing waged by Ethiopian security forces and regional militias in Tigray, in the north of the country. The abuses, which have included ethnically-motivated rape, murder, starvation, imprisonment, and coordinated displacement of several hundred thousand Tigrayans have been condemned as war crimes and crimes against humanity. Ethiopia’s current civil war began in late 2020 when tensions between Prime Minister Abiy Abed and the Tigray People’s Liberation Front (TPLF) boiled over into open fighting. The Ethiopian military was joined by militias from the neighboring Amhara region, which claims a historic right to a large fertile area of western Tigray. Fighters on all sides have been accused of atrocities since the conflict began.
This map depicts the Tigray of Ethiopia, where alleged war crimes and ethnic cleansing have taken place over the course of a civil war. Click on the map to learn more.
|
|
|
World
Poor Air Quality
The World Health Organization (WHO) has released a report stating 99 percent of the world’s population breathes polluted air with fine particulate matter (PM2.5) and Nitrogen dioxide (NO2) that exceed internationally-approved limits. This is the largest release of air quality data ever. PM2.5 and NO2 can cause illness and premature death due to respiratory disease and can also lead to cancers and cardiovascular diseases. NO2 originates from human-generated burning of fuel and is especially found in urban regions. Particulate matter can be traced to power plants, transportation, agriculture, waste burning, and industry, and also natural sources such as desert dust. The WHO has called for more action to reduce fossil fuel use to curb the increase of these pollutants.
This map depicts locations of settlements with data on PM2.5 concentrations. Click on the map to learn more.
|
|
|
|
Graphic Source: WHO
__________________________________________
|
|
Space
Farthest Galaxy Yet Revealed
In a study published to the Astrophysical Journal, a team of international astronomers claims to have found the farthest galaxy from Earth ever recorded. The galaxy, named HD1, was identified after exhaustive examination of data collected from an array of telescopes around the world. Based on the “redshift” – the increasing predominance of infrared light received from celestial objects as they move further away – HD1’s location is an estimated 13.5 billion light-years away and is calculated to have existed only 330 million years after the Big Bang. The amount of ultraviolet light being received from HD1 is proving higher than scientists would expect for such an old galaxy so far away, suggesting that it is undergoing a more active phase of star formation than astrophysicists can explain.
This map depicts the location of the galaxy HD1, which astronomers believe is the farthest yet identified. Click on the map to learn more.
|
|
|
|
|
|
Q: Reaching heights of up to 100 ft every hour, what is the largest active geyser in the southern hemisphere?
A: Pōhutu Geyser
The Pōhutu Geyser is located in the Whakarewarewa Thermal Valley, Rotorua, on the north island of New Zealand. In Māori, Pōhutu translates to “big splash” or “constant splashing.” The giant geyser spurts up to 20 times a day, each explosion lasting ten to 20 minutes. Its consistent splashes are a reminder of the constant activity happening beneath the Earth’s surface. Geothermal water initially starts as rainwater, and then seeps through cracks in the rock deep within the Earth, getting heated as it trickles down. The hot water becomes less dense and rises back to the surface, collecting minerals as it reacts with the rock. Surrounding the geyser are bubbling muds and more than 500 hot springs, some containing boiling hot water still used for cooking.
Source
|
|
|
|
|
Q: The world’s largest mountain carving began in 1948 and is still being worked on today. In which U.S. state is the incomplete carved mountain sculpture? (Hint: This won’t be the state’s first giant mountain carving!)
Stay tuned for the answer to today’s question in tomorrow’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 © 2022 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.
|
|
|
|
|
