Geography news 2019

Here are some significant geography-related news stories from 2019:

  1. Climate Change:
    • The Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC) released a special report on global warming, warning that the world has just 12 years to take drastic action to limit global warming to 1.5°C above pre-industrial levels.
    • The report highlighted the devastating impacts of climate change, including more frequent and severe heatwaves, droughts, and storms.
  2. Natural Disasters:
    • Hurricane Dorian: A powerful Category 5 hurricane struck the Bahamas in September, causing widespread destruction and killing at least 70 people.
    • Typhoon Hagibis: A powerful typhoon hit Japan in October, causing flooding and landslides that killed at least 90 people.
    • Wildfires: Australia experienced its worst bushfire season on record, with fires burning across the country and killing at least 33 people.
  3. Geopolitics and Conflict:
    • Ukraine-Russia Border: Tensions escalated along the Ukraine-Russia border, with both sides accusing each other of violating a ceasefire agreement.
    • Middle East Conflicts: The conflict in Yemen continued to worsen, with the Saudi-led coalition launching airstrikes against Houthi rebels and humanitarian organizations warning of a looming famine.
    • North Korea-US Relations: Tensions between North Korea and the United States remained high, with both sides trading threats and insults.
  4. Environmental Issues:
    • Plastic Pollution: The world's oceans were found to contain over 150 million tons of plastic waste, with the Great Pacific Garbage Patch growing to twice the size of Texas.
    • Deforestation: The Amazon rainforest experienced its worst year on record, with over 9,000 square kilometers of forest lost due to deforestation and wildfires.
    • Water Scarcity: The global water crisis worsened, with millions of people affected by droughts and water shortages in countries such as Cape Town, South Africa, and India.
  5. Geographic Discoveries:
    • Lost City in Cambodia: Archaeologists discovered a lost city in the Cambodian jungle, dating back to the 12th century.
    • Ancient City in Jordan: Excavations in Jordan uncovered an ancient city, believed to be over 2,000 years old, which was hidden beneath a modern-day village.
    • New Species: Scientists discovered new species of plants and animals, including a giant squid, a new species of human, and a previously unknown type of fungus.

These are just a few of the many significant geography-related news stories from 2019.