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United Arab Emirates
Floods Drench Persian Gulf
At least 20 people have been killed in flash floods in several Persian Gulf countries, including the United Arab Emirates (UAE), Oman, Qatar, Saudi Arabia, and Bahrain. In the UAE, flights out of Dubai International Airport were grounded, forcing the suspension of check-in until midnight GMT. Many vehicles have become stranded on flooded highways and roads. The heavy rain was accompanied by thunderstorms and high winds, submerging low-lying areas. The UAE receives an annual average of 5.5-7.8 in (140-200 mm) of rainfall. The emirate of al-Ain, located in the southeast of the UAE, received 9.7 inches (254.8 mm) in less than 24 hours, the heaviest rainfall recorded in 75 years. While some of this instability is attributed to climate change, others have also pointed to the influence of cloud seeding conducted by UAE authorities, in which salt flares are flown up by planes to increase precipitation from clouds.
This map depicts the storm systems that battered several Gulf countries, primarily the United Arab Emirates (UAE) and Oman. Click on the map to learn more.
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Graphic Source: AOL
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United States
Millions Off Medicaid Uninsured
A new survey from the Kaiser Family Foundation finds that a year after millions of Americans were removed from Medicaid expansion programs, nearly one-quarter of those remain uninsured. The federal government provided support to states during the COVID-19 pandemic on condition that the states not remove anyone enrolled in Medicaid until the crisis was over. Around 19.6 million Medicaid enrollees were bumped from the program with the resumption of eligibility checks a year ago, but nearly half of those removed eventually re-qualified, while another portion managed to get enrolled in employer health plans or enrolled themselves in an Affordable Care Act plan. Around 23% of those removed from Medicaid since last year remain uninsured. Different states are moving through the eligibility check process at different rates, and many states never signed on to Medicaid’s expansion with the original Affordable Care Act in the first place.
This interactive map depicts the timelines adopted by states for the “unwinding” of Medicaid enrollments with the end of COVID-19 era protections funded by the federal government. Click on the map to learn more.
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Chile
160 Deep-Sea Species Discovered
An international team of scientists announced they discovered 160 species after exploring 10 seamounts and two islands on the 1,800-mile-long (2,900 km) ocean ridge Salas y Gómez off Easter Island (Rapa Nui) in Chile. The researchers suspect at least 60 of these species are new to science. The observed species include squid, fish, corals, mollusks, sea stars, glass sponges, sea urchins, crabs, and squat lobsters. The team also set a record for sighting the deepest-known photosynthesis-dependent animal in the world, a wrinkle coral. The biologically rich Salas y Gómez Ridge is under consideration for a high-seas marine protected area designation. The 40-day research expedition determined the ridge’s seamounts harbor distinct ecosystems like glass sponge gardens and deep coral reefs. This study provides the scientific basis for better management and expansion of existing marine protected areas, especially around the island of Rapa Nui.
This map depicts the location of the Salas y Gomez ridge off Easter Island (Rapa Nui) in Chile, where dozens of new marine species were discovered by a recent expedition. Click on the map to learn more.
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Q: What country has the highest-density biodiversity in the world?
A: Ecuador
Ecuador is one of the 17 megadiverse countries of the world. It has more species per unit area than any other country on earth. This diversity is due to the location of the country in the neotropics, the presence of the Andes, and the influence of the ocean’s currents on its coasts. It is divided into 4 well-defined natural geographical zones: coast, mountain range, the Amazon, and the Galapagos Islands. Ecuador possesses 26 distinguished habitat types, each one with characteristic flora related to altitude and precipitation levels. The country hosts 16% of the world’s known bird species, 8% of all the species of amphibians on earth, over 16,000 species of plants, and 4,500 species of butterfly.
Source
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Q: What body of water is home to “Null Island,” the intersection of the Equator and the Prime Meridian?
Stay tuned for the answer to today’s question in tomorrow’s DailyGeo.
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