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World
Military Buildup in the Middle East
In recent weeks, the U.S. has dramatically increased its military presence in the Middle East. Growing air and naval forces are now distributed throughout the Persian Gulf and the Arabian Sea, and on military bases in the region. An estimated troop presence of between 30,000 and 40,000 personnel is positioned for possible military action in the event that Iran’s nuclear development program isn’t deterred by diplomatic means. The U.S.S. Abraham Lincoln carrier strike group is already present in the region, and another, the U.S.S. Gerald R. Ford, the navy’s most advanced aircraft carrier, is en route near the Strait of Gibraltar. Jordan’s Muwaffaq Salti Air Base now has approximately 30 combat jets, bringing the current US fighter jet total in the region to at least 50, a number that will increase with the Ford’s arrival. Additional assets in the region or en route include electronic warfare aircraft, at least 9 Reaper drones, and support assets such as refueling and reconnaissance aircraft and air defense systems.
This map depicts the U.S. military build-up in the Middle East. Click on the map to learn more.
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Graphic Source: New York Times
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United States
EPA to Ease Coal Plant Rules
The Trump administration is expected to ease restrictions on coal-fired power plants this week, allowing them to emit higher levels of hazardous pollutants, including mercury. The EPA has already granted 47 companies two-year exemptions from regulations that limit mercury and other toxic emissions from coal plants. Last June, the agency also proposed rolling back rules introduced under former President Joe Biden that were designed to reduce carbon dioxide, mercury, and other air pollutants from power plants. These actions are part of a broader effort by the Trump administration to make fossil fuels cheaper and easier to produce and use. By removing regulations that made coal power plants more expensive to operate, the administration is helping them remain open longer. Over the past nine months, the Energy Department has ordered eight coal units that were scheduled for retirement to continue operating, and officials say they plan to prevent as many additional coal plant closures as possible over the next three years.
This map depicts the estimated health impact (annual mortality) attributable to pollution from U.S coal-fired power plants. Click on the map to learn more.
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United Kingdom
New Species of Ancient Crocodile
A new study has revealed details about a previously-unknown extinct species of ancient crocodile that lived in southern Wales and southwest England, named Galahadosuchus jonesi. The fossil, which had been uncovered in a limestone fissure in the Bristol Channel in 1969, was recently reexamined by researchers who determined that its former classification as another type of early crocodylomorph was incorrect. Rather than being adapted to swimming in bogs and swamps like today’s crocodiles, the 215-million-year-old reptile had long legs, an upright stance, and an agile body that were suited for running and hunting prey on Britain’s dry uplands. In a sense, it was a “reptilian greyhound” that lived entirely on land throughout the Late Triassic period. This discovery bolsters the concept of highly diverse early reptile populations which would have thrived prior to the mass extinction event that cleared the way for dinosaur dominance.
This map depicts the location in which the Galahadosuchus jonesi fossil was found. Click on the map to learn more.
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Q: What country is home to the world’s largest artificial lake?
A: Lake Volta, Ghana
Lake Volta, the largest artificial reservoir in the world based on surface area, is contained behind the Akosombo Dam which generates a substantial amount of Ghana’s electricity. The lake has a surface area of 3,283 square miles (8,502 sq km). Akosombo Dam holds back both the White Volta River and the Black Volta River, which formerly converged to become the Volta River. In the long run, formation of the lake disrupted traditional fishing and farming practices in the region, displaced 78,000 people, and caused a large spike in disease. However, regional food production intensified in the decades after the construction of Akosombo dam, and the lake also opened a large navigable pathway to the north of the country.
Source
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Q: What petroleum-rich river delta was once known as the “Oil Rivers” because of the production of palm oil?
Stay tuned for the answer to today’s question in tomorrow’s DailyGeo.
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