Xaverian College Geography Dept

Almería 2023

Superpowers at play again.

What China's rare earth metal ban means for the West China is threatening an export ban on rare earth metals in response to Washington’s recent decision to impose restrictions on exports of high-end semiconductors to Beijing. This is not the first time that China has mooted such a ban, with rumours circulating since at least 2019 as well as formal t...

This could be a game changer

Swiss solar tech can be rolled out on railway tracks ‘like a carpet’ It's the first time that a removable system has been developed, which gives them more real-world potential for railway lines.

Wildfires in boreal forests release record levels of carbon, satellite study shows Burning trees across Eurasia and North America emitted 1.76bn tonnes of CO₂ in 2021

Interesting maps on populations

Visualizing Population Density Patterns in Six Countries These maps show the population density of several countries, using 3D spikes to denote where more people live.

Geography is (almost) everything Physical realities do more to shape world events than ideas

99% Efficiency: Princeton Engineers Have Developed a New Way To Remove Microplastics From Water Princeton Engineering researchers have developed a cost-effective way to use breakfast foods to create a material that can remove salt and microplastics from seawater. The researchers used egg whites to create an aerogel, a versatile material known for its light weight and porosity. I

Compound extreme heat and drought will hit 90% of world population More than 90% of the world's population is projected to face increased risks from the compound impacts of extreme heat and drought, potentially widening social inequalities as well as undermining the natural world's ability to reduce CO2 emissions in the atmosphere—according to a study from Oxford...

https://www.scientificamerican.com/article/why-mauna-loa-and-other-hawaiian-volcanoes-are-different-from-most/

Why Mauna Loa and Other Hawaiian Volcanoes Are Different from Most The magma that is fueling the first eruption of Hawaii’s Mauna Loa volcano in nearly 40 years is less likely to cause explosive effusions than magma at other volcanoes

https://news.sky.com/story/nearly-half-of-uks-offshore-wind-capacity-owned-by-state-owned-foreign-entities-analysis-shows-12705500

Shameful

Nearly half of UK's offshore wind capacity owned by state-owned foreign entities, analysis shows In large part this is because the UK government only owns a small renewable energy company called Offshore Renewable Energy Catapult, which is focused on research and innovation and holds a tiny percentage of capacity.

Home from a week's fieldwork in the Tabernas Desert

Erosion never stops

Yorkshire coastal residents warned 'no coming back' from erosion The Environment Agency's head says coastal erosion will force some residents away from the sea