|
|
|
United States
Elusive Testing and Tracing Targets
Researchers at Harvard Global Health Institute have conducted analysis that shows most states are still falling short of testing and tracing targets. New state testing targets for the month of July show nineteen states meeting the minimum targets for mitigation, and only five states reaching suppression level testing as outbreaks of the virus across the United States grow more severe. Suppression level testing attempts to bring new cases down to a low enough level to allow everyday life to return to some sort of normalcy, whereas mitigation level testing is often not sufficient to prevent new outbreaks. The states of Alaska, Hawaii, Montana, Vermont and West Virginia are currently the only states reaching their suppression target.
This map depicts the five U.S. states that have reached their suppression target and the nineteen that have reached their mitigation target but are below their suppression target. All COVID-19 updates will be displayed in a red box.
|
|
|
|
|
__________________________________________
|
|
United States & Mexico
Hurricane Hanna
Heavy rainfall and flash flooding from Hurricane Hanna is expected to continue in southern Texas, Louisiana, and north-eastern Mexico until Tuesday. After the category one hurricane made landfall on Saturday, it has weakened to a tropical depression. As it continues to move inland, flash flooding and high winds still pose a serious threat. Texas Governor Greg Abbott declared a state of emergency for 32 counties, as more than 250,000 people have been without power in South Texas. Moving into Mexico on Sunday, the depression flooded a hospital and homes in Reynosa, south of the border. The weakening storm in the south is also happening as Hurricane Douglas is moving towards Hawaii.
This map depicts the 48-hour precipitation levels in the southern U.S. from Hurricane Hanna. Click on the map to learn more.
|
|
|
Sudan
Farmers Killed in Darfur Attack
Twenty people were killed Saturday in the Darfur region of Sudan when a group of gunmen fired on civilians working in the fields. Darfur has faced conflict since 2003 after an ethnic minority rebellion against the government led to the deaths of 300,000 people and the displacement of 2.5 million. After a peace deal was signed in January, and another in May, displaced farmers have been returning to the region for the first time in sixteen years, in time for the planting season. Experts say the attack was the result of a land dispute, one of many that have been occurring in the region over the last several weeks. The Prime Minister of Sudan announced yesterday that security forces will be deployed to Darfur to protect locals throughout the farming season.
This map depicts the Darfur region of Sudan. Click on the map to expand.
|
|
|
|
|
|
Q: The Smoking Hills of Canada are caused by which natural phenomena?
A: Autoignition
The Smoking Hills is located on Canada’s Arctic coast close to Cape Bathurst in the Northwest Territories. The first recorded sighting of the hills was in the early 1800s during the second search for the lost expedition of Sir John Franklin by the Irish Captain Robert McClure. (The first search expedition was sponsored by the American Geographical Society and was the catalyst for the society’s formation.) Upon seeing the billowing smoke, the crew thought it was a signal from the lost explorer but on closer inspection and with no signs of life, assumed the hills were burning due to volcanic activity. The true cause for the Smoking Hills is the large deposits of sulfur-rich lignite (brown coal) which ignite spontaneously when the hills erode and the mineral veins become exposed to the air.
Source
|
|
|
|
|
Q: Which natural featuture prevents the 14,000 mile long Pan-American Highway from fully connecting Alaska to Angentina?
Stay tuned for the answer to today’s question in tomorrow’s DailyGeo.
|
|
|
|
|
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.
|
|
|
|
DailyGeo is a daily digital communication created by AGS for the geography community. Feel free to share and encourage others to become part of the community too!
Copyright © 2020 American Geographical Society, All rights reserved.
We understand this might not be for everyone. Although we would hate to see you go, you can unsubscribe here.
How are we doing? We want to hear your feedback on the DailyGeo – what are we doing right and what should we be doing differently. Talk to us by emailing ags@americangeo.org.
|
|
|
|
|
