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United States
Re-opening of K-12 Schools
The majority of schools in the United States would have re-opened after the summer break by this time in a typical year. The COVID-19 pandemic has, however, delayed the start of school in many of the country’s largest districts as cases of the virus surge through certain communities. Many schools are choosing to open remotely and resume with online learning, which was seen earlier in the year in the initial stages of the pandemic. One example, the mayor of New York City, Bill de Blasio, has pushed back the date for students to report in-person at schools to September 21. This map by The New York Times uses data gathered by Times Opinion and shows where it is safe for K-12 schools to re-open. According to the report by the Harvard Global Health Institute, counties in red should not reopen schools, those in orange/yellow could partially reopen schools, and those in green could reopen their schools as long as government health advice is adhered to.
This map depicts areas where it is safe for schools to re-open according to the Harvard Global Health Institute. All COVID-19 updates will be displayed in a red box.
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China
Increasing Nuclear Capability
Yesterday the Department of Defense released their annual Chinese Military Power Report; showing the nation’s dramatic increase in forces that eclipse the United States’ in shipbuilding, air defense, and land-based missiles. Historically, China has had a nuclear warhead stockpile of only several hundred, when compared to Russia (6,375) and the United States (5,800). Now, however, the report indicates China’s intention to double their nuclear capabilities within the next ten years. According to the report, the nation seems to be investing in a “nuclear triad,” advancing their nuclear weaponry by land, air, and sea, while simultaneously switching to a “launch on warning” system which allows for faster launches.
This map depicts the quantities of nuclear weaponry world-wide. Click on the map to expand.
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Graphic Source: AFP
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Cambodia
Khmer Rouge Executioner Dies
Kaing Guek Eav or “Comrade Duch,” the prison chief of the Khmer Rouge regime in Cambodia has died. He was serving a lifetime prison sentence after being convicted of crimes against humanity by an UN-backed court in 2010. Almost two million people died under the Khmer Rouge from 1975 to 1979. The prison, Tuol Sleng, was a notorious torture site. Almost 15,000 people were sent there after being considered enemies of the state, brutally tortured, and coerced into confessing false crimes against the Khmer Rouge. They were then put to death in the “Killing Fields.” The Killing Fields were also mass graves for thousands of people who died from disease and famine. The regime was ousted in 1979 by Vietnamese troops, however many of the regime’s leaders escaped and fought against the new Vietnamese-backed government along the Thai-Cambodia border.
This map depicts the various locations that executions took place, known as the “Killing Fields.” Click on the map to expand.
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Q: Which body of water is known for its large concentration of brine pool/lakes?
A: Gulf of Mexico
The Gulf of Mexico contains numerous brine lakes/pools, some as small as 1m across and with others over 20km (12.4 mi) long. During the middle Jurassic period, the gulf was a shallow sea that became cut off (from the rest of the world ocean) and dried out, producing a layer of salts up to 8km (4.9 mi) in thickness. The brine lakes were then created by a process called salt tectonics, which refers to the movement of large salt deposits. These underwater lakes are complete with their own distinct surface, shoreline, and waves. The high levels of salinity kill most life forms larger than mussels that fall inside. One of the most famous of these brine lakes is dubbed the “Jacuzzi of Despair.”
Source
Click here to learn more about our upcoming Fall Symposium Geography 2050: The Future of the World Ocean
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Q: At a length of 113 miles, the world’s longest barrier island is located off the coast of which U.S. state?
Stay tuned for the answer to today’s question in tomorrow’s DailyGeo.
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