6 Feb

Japan: Quarantine Continues

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Japan 
Quarantine Continues 
A cruise ship floating off the coast of Japan under quarantine has reported 41 new cases of confirmed coronavirus patients, bringing the total number of patients to 61.  The cruise, Diamond Princess, was travelling along the coast of Asia with about 3,700 passengers. The cruise line announced Tuesday it would quarantine the ship for at least two weeks. Eight of the newly diagnosed patients are American citizens. All coronavirus patients will be removed from the ship and transported to local hospitals. 

This map depicts the path and timeline of the quarantined ship. Click on the map to learn more.

Graphic Source: AFP
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Australia
Rain Smothers Fires
On Thursday, torrential rain began in New South Wales (NSW), Australia, with some places receiving as much as 281 mm (~11 inches) since 9 am. The storm extinguished 20 of the state’s 60 active fires that have been burning in recent months. A severe weather alert has been issued for a 621-mile span of the state. The storm has caused major flooding, leading to over 1,000 calls for help between NSW and neighboring Queensland since rains began Wednesday.  The rain is projected to continue into next week and is expected to aid fire suppression in bush-fire ravaged parts of the state.

This map depicts NSW’s ongoing rainfall. Click on the map to learn more.

Graphic Source: Bureau of Meteorology NSW
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North American and Europe
Widespread Bumblebee Decline
Bumblebee populations have declined by 46 percent in North America and 17 percent in Europe since 1974, according to a study released yesterday in Science. Researchers analyzed the abundance of 66 species of bees across North America and Europe and found evidence of significant population decline tied to increasing temperatures. Regions that experienced a higher frequency of unusually warm days saw elevated extinction rates, reduced colonization, and decreasing species richness compared to areas with more stable temperatures. Bumblebees are important pollinators for many plant species in North America and Europe and their declining population could lead to cascading biodiversity loss and economic repercussions for agriculture.

This map depicts decreasing species richness in bumblebee species across North America and Europe. Click on the map to learn more.

Graphic Source: Science

             

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Yesterday’s Answer

Q: Called Druk Yul (Land of the Thunder Dragon) by its people, which country in the eastern Himalayas is sandwiched between China and India?

A: Bhutan
First settled in the ninth century, Bhutan is landlocked and completely bordered by mountains. The country is home to the 40th highest mountain in the world – Gangkhar Puensum which is also the highest unclimbed mountain.

Source

Today’s Question

 

Q:  Which desert has the greatest species diversity of any desert in North America?

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

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