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Russia-Ukraine
Kerch Bridge Attacked Again
An overnight attack on the Kerch Bridge, which connects mainland Russia to occupied Crimea, resulted in its closure for the second time in less than a year. The strike, reportedly carried out by two Ukrainian maritime drones, caused a couple’s death and injured their daughter. Ukrainian officials did not explicitly claim responsibility but hinted at involvement. The bridge was previously attacked in October, prompting Moscow to retaliate against Ukraine’s infrastructure. The Kerch Bridge is a crucial supply route for Russian forces in the ongoing conflict with Ukraine. The attack coincided with Ukrainian counteroffensives in Ukraine’s occupied south and east territories, and Russia’s announcement of halting a UN-brokered grain export deal.
This map depicts the location of an explosion on the Kerch Bridge between occupied Crimea and Russia. Click on the map to learn more.
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Graphic Source: AP News
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South Korea
Flooding Death Toll Rises to 40
Flash floods and landslides in South Korea have caused at least 40 deaths as of this morning. In the city of Cheongju, rescuers recovered the bodies of 13 victims trapped in a bus that was stuck in the 2,247 ft (685 m) Osong tunnel when it flooded. The Ministry of the Interior reported over 10,000 people have been forced to evacuate due to the downpour, with over 24 inches (60 cm) of rain having fallen since July 9. Residents and families of the victims from the tunnel incident have criticized local authorities for not preemptively closing roads in light of torrential rain and rising water levels of the nearby river. South Korean President Yoon also blamed local authorities for failing to follow disaster response rules, and has called for an overhaul of national preparedness, citing extreme weather becoming more commonplace due to climate change.
This map depicts the Osong tunnel in Cheongju, South Korea, where at least 13 people died traveling on a bus in a flooded tunnel. Click on the map to learn more.
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Graphic Source: Barron’s
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Canada-United States
Wildfires Continue
After a short remission from wildfire smoke in many of the lower 48 United States, a new wave of smoke from Canada is affecting broad swaths of the country again. Since Friday, the states of Minnesota and Wisconsin have been placed under air quality alerts, with air quality beginning to deteriorate in the Dakotas and Montana. Thick smoke from the fires has engulfed multiple Canadian provinces, and over the weekend, a large cold front pushed the plumes southward over the border and into the Northern Plains and Great Lakes region. Abnormally hot and dry weather across Canada has fueled the wildfires, which are expected to continue at least into the next few weeks. This fire season in Canada is the worst on record by far, with almost 23.5 million acres (9.5 million hectares) burned.
This map depicts forecast levels of smoke from Canadian wildfires over the United States for the morning of July 17, 2023. Click on the map to learn more.
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Human beings are visual and creative creatures. Through our own eyes, we process and understand data on the world around us. The painting above, titled “Summer Heat 2020” was created by University of Wisconsin–Madison researcher Nan Li and artist Diane Burko, highlighting how the integration of art with data visualizations can help non-expert audiences better understand and engage with critical topics such as climate change. The red, orange, and blue motifs depicted within the painting represent wildfires and melting glaciers overlaid on artistic renderings of maps that appear to be dripping over a graph of global atmospheric carbon dioxide levels. Artistic interpretations of geographical data can help showcase modern day issues through visually unique modes, allowing viewers to imagine a better world from a different perspective. This painting perfectly embodies our DailyGeo’s ‘The Arternative World,’ as it provides creative avenues to bridge political divides surrounding scientific research in ways that data alone could not.
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Q: What volcano’s major eruption in 2018 on Hawaii’s Big Island has reshaped the island’s borders?
A: Kīlauea
The eruption of the Kīlauea volcano in May of 2018 caused dramatic changes to the Big Island’s geography. Around 250 million cubic meters of lava spewed out in the historic eruption, and lava flow not only enlarged the summit’s crater, it also wiped out communities, created new land, and changed the shorelines of the island around 20 miles (32 km) away. Observing and mapping these changes after a major eruption is pertinent to better understanding and preparing for disasters. Up-close observations however can be dangerous, so volcanologists often use drones, satellites, sensors, and more geospatial tools to monitor the surrounding landscape. Fast-moving lava from Kīlauea’s eastern flank fissures added new topography to the land. A month after the eruption, one of the flows had reached Kapoho Bay, and within just a few days, lava had completely filled up the cove and created a lava “delta” extending over a mile (1.6 km) offshore. The flows also wiped out over 650 homes and displaced thousands of residents, including the home of Big Island Mayor Harry Kim.
Source
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Q: What is the only modern country in Southeast Asia to not be colonized by Europeans?
Stay tuned for the answer to today’s question in tomorrow’s DailyGeo.
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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.
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