Random graphic of the day: UNEP/GRID-Arendal Maps and Graphics Library

Formation of lakes and glacier lake outburst floods (GLOFs) by Medvezhi Glacier, Pamirs

Wed, 16 May 2012 15:13:04 -0200

The increasing number of glacial and moraine lakes in Central Asian mountains is a matter of great concern. One of the surging glaciers that poses a potential threat is the 15 km long Medvezhi (Bear) Glacier in the Pamirs mountains of Tajikistan. Its surges have repeatedly caused lake formation, outburst and subsequent floodings. In 1963 and 1973, the surge of the glacier was so significant (1 to 2 km increase in length) that the ice dam exceeded 100 m in height and dammed a lake of over 20 million m3 of water and debris. The outburst of that lake generated a series of large flood waves. Due to early warning and monitoring, there were no victims, although infrastructural damage was significant.

Who gets the trash?

Tue, 15 May 2012 12:22:30 -0200

As we continually update and invent new products the life of the old ones is getting shorter and shorter. Like shipbreaking, e-waste recycling involves the major producers and users, shipping the obsolete products to Asia, Eastern Europe, and Africa. But instead of being “green” we are exporting a sack full of problems to people who have to choose between poverty or poison. This graphic illustrates major receivers of e-waste in Asia.

Comb-jelly (Mnemiopsis leidyi) spreading through the Caspian Sea (invasive species)

Mon, 14 May 2012 12:20:35 -0200

The comb jelly (Mnemiopsis leidyi) is well adapted to the habitat (salinity, temperature, and food range) and reproduces faster than endemic species. As it eats the same food as them, it has had a drastic effect on their numbers, upsetting the entire food chain. The jelly is an invasive species, brought from North America by ships.

World ocean thermohaline circulation

Sun, 13 May 2012 12:19:33 -0200

The global conveyor belt thermohaline circulation is driven primarily by the formation and sinking of deep water (from around 1500m to the Antarctic bottom water overlying the bottom of the ocean) in the Norwegian Sea. When the strength of the haline forcing increases due to excess precipitation, runoff, or ice melt the conveyor belt will weaken or even shut down. The variability in the strength of the conveyor belt will lead to climate change in Europe and it could also influence in other areas of the global ocean.

Projected changes in permafrost (Northern Hemisphere)

Sat, 12 May 2012 12:19:19 -0200

Modelled permafrost temperatures (mean annual temperature at the permafrost surface) for the Northern Hemisphere (Arctic), derived by applying climate conditions to a spatially distributed permafrost model. (a) Present-day: temperatures averaged over the years 1980– 1999. Present-day climatic conditions were based on the CRU2 data set with 0.5° x 0.5° latitude/longitude resolution. (b) Future: projected changes in temperatures in comparison with 1980–1999, averaged over the years 2080–2099. Future climate conditions were derived from the MIT 2D climate model output for the 21st century.

Relationship between biodiversity and poverty in Africa

Fri, 11 May 2012 12:18:53 -0200

This map may be used to show areas in which biodiversity is threatened in relation to poverty on a continental scale. Areas where high percentage of underweight children - used as a proxy for poverty - coincide with a high occurrence of amphibian species and endemic bird areas - a proxy for biodiversity - may indicate areas in which poor people likely have no other choice than the unsustainable extraction of resources, in turn threatening biodiversity .

Protected areas and transboundary cooperation

Thu, 10 May 2012 12:18:05 -0200

Trans-boundary collaboration in parks in the greater Congo Basin.

Gender equality and empowerment of women: education status

Wed, 09 May 2012 12:17:39 -0200

The Millennium Development Goal 3 address gender equality and empowerment of women. This map displays the status in 2001 of an indicator for target 4: 'Eliminate gender disparity in primary and secondary education, preferably by 2005, and in all levels of education no later than 2015'. According to the data the situation needs to be addressed primarily in central Africa and West and Southern Asia.

Trends in water consumption and evaporation

Tue, 08 May 2012 12:17:34 -0200

Throughout the 20th century, global water use has increased in the agricultural, domestic and industrial sectors. Evaporation from reservoirs has increased at a slower rate. Projections indicate that both global water use and evaporation will continue to increase. This graphic compares industrial and domestic water consumption as a whole with evaporation from reservoirs, in cubic kilometres per year. The time period covered is 1900 to 2010 (assessments and projections).

Rapid retreat of glaciers in the Cordillera Blanca, Peru

Mon, 07 May 2012 12:16:38 -0200

There is now ample evidence of a major retreat of most mountain glaciers during the last 100 years in response to widespread increases in temperature. In recent decades, the rate of glacial recession has increased tremendously. Mountain glaciers supply moisture to mountain forests during thedry and warm seasons. With retreating mountain glaciers, the risk of forest fires increases, with a subsequent reduction of forested areas. Smaller glaciers and diminishing forests lead to the drying up of rivers downstream during the dry seasons. Precipitation will more often come as rain during the winterand wash away at once instead of being stored as snow and then melt in the dry summer season

Change in sea level as a result of changes in ocean density and circulation

Sun, 06 May 2012 12:16:24 -0200

Changes in sea levels resulting exclusively from changes in ocean density and circulation patterns, results of atmosphere-ocean general circulation models (AOGCM) for climate change scenario A1B (this scenario assumes future rapid demographic and economic growth, introduction of new and more efficient technologies, accompanied by a balanced use of all types of energy sources) show that there will be significant spatial variability, i.e., changes in sea levels will not be uniform. Thus, it is expected that by the end of the century (2090-2099) there will be major rises in sea levels in the Caribbean and the Atlantic compared to 1980-1999 levels – attributable to the change in density and ocean circulation patterns – which, with the exception of the southeastern coast of Argentina and the eastern coast of Brazil, are expected to be as much as 5 cm greater than the projected world average of between 0.21 meters and 0.48 meters. These same models predict that increases in Pacific sea levels will be less than the world average of 5 cm.