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Europe
Increase in Cases Across Continent
The number of confirmed cases of COVID-19 has increased steadily in Europe over the past two months according to Hans Kluge, the head of the World Health Organization’s European branch. The first week of August saw 40,000 more cases across the continent than in the first week of June. This map by the European Center for Disease Prevention and Control shows the 14-day COVID-19 case notification rate per 100,000 people between August 3 and August 16, 2020. In the last 24 hours France, Germany, and Italy have seen their highest daily increase of infections in months. Experts believe that gatherings of people associated with vacations and nightlife are to blame for the latest spikes in cases of COVID-19.
This map shows the 14-day case positivity rate of the virus per 100,000 people in the EU / EEA and the UK. All COVID-19 updates will be displayed in a red box.
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United States
Fires in the Bay Area
At least six people have died and 62,000 have been evacuated as wildfires ravage the Bay Area in California. Nearly two dozen major fires and 300 smaller events have burned more than 400,000 acres and 480 homes and other buildings in Northern and Central California, according to the state fire authority, Cal Fire. Big Basin Redwoods State Park, California’s oldest state park, and several wineries in Napa and Sonoma counties have sustained major fire damage. A historic heatwave across the western U.S. has created a favorable climate for fires, which firefighters are struggling to contain amid the hot and windy conditions. The air quality index has surpassed 150 in many places, meaning it is unhealthy to breathe even for those with no additional health risks.
This interactive map depicts the location of all reported fires in Northern and Central California. Click on the map to learn more.
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Graphic Source: Mercury News
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World
Mangrove Habitat Loss
Mangroves are an essential part of our ecosystem— they protect coastlines from harsh conditions such as storms and flooding, store carbon, and are home to many marine species. Researchers at NASA recently created a map to show the change in mangrove populations over time from 2000 to 2016. Within the 16 year period, about 1,300 square miles of mangroves have been lost. Urban development, farming, and aquaculture have greatly contributed to the rapid decline in mangrove habitats around the world. However, a lot of the loss is due to natural causes, and researchers fear climate change will only worsen this issue. By mapping the mangrove loss over time and space, researches believe the visual representations will help experts propose better conservation and restoration solutions.
This map depicts mangrove loss around the world and the different areas where loss is due to natural causes or human activity. Click on the map to learn more.
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Q: Which island holds the title of being the easternmost in the Caribbean?
A: Barbados
The only Caribbean island to be completely surrounded by the Atlantic Ocean, Barbados is situated about 100 miles (160 km) east of Saint Vincent and the Grenadines. The island is not geographically part of the Lesser Antilles archipelago but is usually grouped with it. The roughly triangular-shaped island measures about 20 miles (32 km) from northwest to southeast and about 15 miles (25 km) from east to west at its widest point.
Source
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Q: Which two states in the United States are the only ones entirely comprised of metropolitan statistical areas, as designated by the Census?
Stay tuned for the answer to today’s question in Monday’s DailyGeo.
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