|
Yemen
USS Carney Downs Missiles
The USS Carney, a US Navy guided-missile destroyer in the northern Red Sea, shot down three land attack cruise missiles and eight drones launched by Iranian-backed Houthis in Yemen that the Pentagon suggests were potentially headed towards Israel. This marks the U.S. military’s first action taken in defense of Israel since a Hamas-led attack on Israel out of the Gaza Strip on October 7. It is unclear where the Houthi militia’s missiles were fired from but they were headed in a northerly direction, likely toward Israel. Last week, Houthi leader Abdel-Malek al-Houthi warned if the US directly intervened in the Gaza conflict his group would respond by firing drones and missiles.
This map depicts the location of the USS Carney when it shot down northbound missiles and drones launched from Yemen, believed to be headed to Israel. Click on the map to learn more.
|
|
|
|
Graphic Source: ABC News
__________________________________________
|
|
China
Nuclear Arsenal to Double by 2030
An annual report released by the Pentagon says China has significantly expanded its nuclear stockpile over the past year and is now holding some 500 operational warheads. The report also said Beijing hoped to double its arsenal to over 1,000 warheads by 2030 and is also looking to increase its supply of conventionally-armed weapons. However, the report stated China remained committed to a “no-first-strike” policy. While the report said the rise exceeded projections, China’s stockpile is still dwarfed by those of Russia and the US. Russia has a nuclear arsenal of some 5,889 warheads and the US can field 5,244, according to the independent Stockholm International Peace Research Institute.
This map depicts the estimated maximum range of China’s non-nuclear weapons. Click on the map to learn more.
|
|
|
|
Graphic Source: The Drive
__________________________________________
|
|
Greenland
Hope For Ice Sheet
The Greenland ice sheet seems to be more resistant to rising temperatures than initially believed, according to a study published on Wednesday. Scientists previously believed if temperatures rose 2 degrees Celsius above pre-industrial levels, the Greenland ice sheet would begin an irreversible decline. If the entirety of the ice sheet melted, it alone would cause a 20-foot increase in sea level. However, Wednesday’s study shows if the temperature reaches and even surpasses 2 degrees Celsius, the ice sheet could be sustained if those temperatures decreased relatively quickly. Based on this new research, the real threat to the Greenland ice sheet is an overshoot of 2 degrees Celsius for more than a few hundred years. These new findings indicate there is a window of time to reverse damage to the ice sheet.
This map depicts Greenland’s 2023 melt season. Click on the map to learn more.
|
|
|
|
|
|
Q: The monarch is the only butterfly known to make a two-way migration as birds do. What country do monarchs go to when it is time to travel south for the winter?
A: Mexico
Unlike other butterflies that can overwinter as larvae, pupae, or even as adults in some species, monarchs cannot survive the cold winters of northern climates. The eastern population of North America’s monarchs overwinters in 12 isolated mountaintops in the States of Mexico and Michoacan in the Sierra Madre Mountains, from October to late March. Monarch butterfly overwintering colonies are found in Mexico’s oyamel fir forest, a unique mountain habitat and Mexico’s most endangered forest-type. Only 2% of the original forest remains. The cloud cover that typically forms around the mountain tops helps provide the moisture oyamels need, particularly during the dry season (Nov.-May). The oyamel forest is a relic from a time when the earth was cooler and wetter. As the earth warmed, the forest retreated up the mountainsides to retain the cool, moist climate to which the trees are adapted. The mountain hillsides of the oyamel forest provide an ideal microclimate for the butterflies. At a lower temperature, the monarchs would be forced to use their fat reserves. The humidity in the oyamel forest also assures the monarchs won’t dry out, allowing them to conserve their energy. Monarchs cluster together to stay warm. Tens of thousands of monarchs can cluster on a single tree.
Source
|
|
|
|
|
Q: The ancient Egyptians constructed their calendar around what natural occurrence?
Stay tuned for the answer to today’s question in Monday’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 the American Geographical Society (AGS) for the geography community. If you are receiving this email, it is because you are an affiliate of AGS or a participant in one of our programs. Feel free to share and encourage others to become part of the community too!
Copyright © 2023 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.
|
|
|
|
|
