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China
Typhoon Dolphin Makes Landfall
Typhoon Dolphin recently made landfall near Wenzhou in Zhejiang Province, China. The storm brought winds of 93 mph (151 km/h) in addition to heavy rain, making it equivalent to a category 1 hurricane. Shanghai received record rainfall of 12 inches (313 mm) over 24 hours, and portions of Zhejiang province are expected to receive 10-20 inches (250-500 mm) of rain. Over a million residents were evacuated, from Fujian province northward to Shanghai. Authorities have warned of geological risks such as landslides, in addition to rivers swelling and flooding over. Transportation has also come to a halt, with flights, ferries, and trains cancelled across the country. Other affected countries include Taiwan, the Philippines, and Japan.
This map depicts the path of Typhoon Dolphin as it moved onto mainland China. Click on the map to learn more.
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Saudi Arabia
New Joint Defense Pact
On Friday, Saudi Arabia, Türkiye, and Pakistan signed a mutual defense pact in Mecca, marking a new era of closer regional cooperation. The agreement, known as the “Mecca Joint Defense Agreement,” will allow the three Muslim-majority nations to combine their varied strengths and resources to coordinate their defense industries and strategic positioning. While Saudi Arabia brings its financial might, Pakistan contributes nuclear deterrence and sizable manpower, while Türkiye likewise possesses a large and technologically capable military. Countries across the Middle East have been reviewing their defensive capabilities and diplomatic ties as questions emerge about the role the United States will play in the region. The three countries have released a statement that the pact is defensive in nature, and other countries may petition to join.
This map depicts the three countries that signed the new Mecca Pact. Click on the map to learn more.
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Graphic Source: Anadolu Agency
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United States
Drought, Fires, & Water Crisis
Nearly half of the lower 48 states of the U.S. are experiencing drought this week, exacerbating issues caused by poor winter snowpacks and lower streamflows, and leading to increased wildfire risk and stress on agriculture. An exceptionally hot, dry, July meant that Oregon and Washington received only half or a quarter of the rainfall typically seen in the month. More than 2.9 million acres (1.1m ha) have already burned across Washington and Oregon this year, as extreme conditions fuel fast-moving fires that have covered the region in toxic smoke for weeks on end. Further south, the combined water level in two of the U.S.’s biggest reservoirs, Lake Powell and Lake Mead, has fallen to a historic low, in what experts are calling a significant moment in the Colorado River crisis. This vast waterway supplies roughly 40 million people across seven US states, tribal nations, and Mexico, and irrigates millions of acres of farmland. Utah experienced the most severe deficit compared to its historical average during the spring drought cycle, with Colorado, Arizona, and New Mexico not far behind.
This map depicts current drought conditions in the United States. Click on the map to learn more.
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Q: What marginal sea of the Pacific Ocean is located in the Canadian province of British Columbia and the U.S. state of Washington?
A: Salish Sea
The Salish Sea extends from the north end of the Strait of Georgia and Desolation Sound to the south end of Puget Sound and west to the mouth of the Strait of Juan de Fuca including the inland marine waters of southern British Columbia, Canada and northern Washington, U.S. These separately named bodies of water form a single estuarine ecosystem. Freshwater input gives the Salish Sea its status as an estuary and the immense volume of water from the Fraser River drives the circulation of the inland sea. Over 9 million people live within the drainage basin of the Salish Sea, including the cities of Vancouver, Seattle, Victoria, Olympia, Nanaimo, Bellingham, Everett, Port Angeles, Port Townsend and Tacoma. The ecosystem is home to over 200 different species of fish, over 100 different species of bird, 20 different species of marine mammal and over 3,000 different species of invertebrates.
Source
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Q: What is the largest river in China and the world’s third-longest river, with a basin that covers an area more than four times the size of California?
Stay tuned for the answer to today’s question in tomorrow’s DailyGeo.
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