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Philippines
Flash Flooding Kills 13
Heavy rainfall, which evolved into flash floods, inundated Christmas celebrations in the southern Philippines. At least 13 people died on Christmas, mostly by drowning in floods, and 23 people are still missing. Another 45,000 are currently sheltered in 87 government evacuation centers, and other displaced people are likely staying with nearby friends and relatives. The flood has destroyed 534 houses, 15 roads, and three bridges. The downpour this Christmas wasn't due to tropical storms, however. Instead, the rains came from the shear line - where warm and cold winds meet and form large rain clouds that can create torrential rains. The Philippines’ weather bureau reported rainfall from the shear line will continue this week, and some areas in the country will be vulnerable to landslides.
This map depicts the Philippines, and the location of Misamis Occidental in southern Philippines heavily impacted by the torrential rains over the weekend. Click on the map to learn more.
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Graphic Source: Al Jazeera
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Serbia-Kosovo
Troops Put on High Alert
The Serbian military reported it is at the “highest level of combat readiness,” as tensions escalate between Serbia and Kosovo. The Serbian capital, Belgrade, has increased its armed presence on the border in recent days after reports of an alleged shooting incident. Tensions have been running particularly high in recent months, with ethnic Serbs refusing to cooperate with Kosovo authorities. Around 50,000 Serbs live in the northern region of Kosovo and refuse to recognize the Prístina government since Kosovo's independence in 2008. Serbia also does not recognize Kosovo as an independent state. NATO’s Kosovo peace-keeping force is presently encouraging all sides to avoid conflict via enabling security, freedom of movement in Kosovo, and prevention of misleading narratives.
This map depicts Kosovo, a predominantly Albanian population that declared independence from Serbia in 2008. Click on the map to learn more.
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Graphic Source: BBC
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World
Deadly Blizzard in Buffalo, NY
At least 28 people have died as a result of a lake-effect blizzard in Buffalo, New York. Over four feet of snow fell throughout the storm, with a few additional inches of accumulation continuing today. People in Buffalo died in cars, snowbanks, and homes, as it was difficult for emergency crews to make timely responses to medical crises. Zero-mile visibility was recorded at the Buffalo airport for nearly 16 hours from midday Friday to early Christmas Eve, and by Monday morning, the snow total was just above 49 inches (124 cm) at the Buffalo Niagara International Airport. Around 2,872 domestic and international flights were cancelled Tuesday.
This map depicts how a bomb cyclone is formed, explaining the massive snowfall in Buffalo, New York. Click on the map to learn more.
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Q: Which ocean, our planet's smallest, is divided into two basins by an underwater ocean ridge?
A: The Arctic Ocean
At about 5.4 milllion square miles, the Arctic Ocean is the world's smallest ocean. The Arctic is divided by the Lomonosov Ridge, separating the Eurasian (or Nasin) basin and the North American (or Hyperborean) basin. The Arctic's ocean floor topography varies from plains, fault-block ridges, and basins, with the average depth being just under 4,000 ft (1,220 m), and its deepest point reaching 18,264 ft (5,570 m). The largest inflow of water into the Arctic Ocean makes its way from the Atlantic Ocean through the Norwegian Current, and travels along the Eurasian coast. Water from the Pacific Ocean also reaches the Arctic via the Bering Strait. The Arctic Ocean used to be mostly covered in ice year around, however climate change and increased ice melt has changed the salinity and subfreezing temperatures of the Arctic. The diverse landscape of the Arctic provides for a wide array of wildlife, including species such as the beluga whale, walruses, the arctic fox, narwhals, and more. Polar bears remain the most iconic Arctic species, and live no where else on the planet.
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Q: Nicknamed the "lighthouse of the Pacific," what live volcano is so accessible you can stand near the crater's edge and look directly into its lava-filled belly?
Stay tuned for the answer to today's question in tomorrow's DailyGeo.
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