In the news (3)
The Arctic, and Global systems
[Three more short posts of geographical ‘things’ that have interested me in recent days. They cover the Arctic and permafrost, and global trade and systems.]
1. Alaskan rivers turning orange
In a recent report American scientists suggest climate change is driving processes turning Alaskan rivers orange. As the Arctic warms soil loosened by thawing permafrost releases acid and metals such as zinc, nickel, copper, cadmium, iron and aluminium. Being exposed to water and oxygen these metals oxidise, staining the rivers orange. Scientists are also concerned that drinking water is affected in rural areas because of a significant decrease in macro-invertebrates on the bottom of rivers which form a lower part of the food web. This emphasises the importance of knowing more about what will happen as permafrost thaws.
[Orange areas on the map below indicate areas where rivers have been seen to be orange in colour; red stars show sample sites of water collection.]
2. China – Brazil EV car trade
If Chinese electric vehicles are about to flood the world economy - as many western leaders worry - then Brazil as a case study is worth watching. In May 2024, the Chinese automaker BYD exported to Brazil more than 5,400 cars on board a single ship to supply its current main foreign market (see graph below).
The Explorer No.1, a vessel that began operating in January and will be part of a fleet of eight from the Shenzhen-based company, has made only two trips since its commissioning. The first was to Europe and it recently docked at Suape Port, in the Brazilian state of Pernambuco.
After removing the cargo, the ship returned to China empty, which is unusual in such situations where the aim is to make use of space and make a round trip profitable.
Brazil is likely to be a key market if Chinese EV makers are going to thrive. The USA has all but cut off supplies of Chinese EVs by imposing a 100% tariff, and the European Union is also stating that it will erect its own trade barriers to such vehicles of up to 38%.
3. Container port efficiency
In June 2024, the World Bank and S&P Global Market Intelligence, published the latest Container Port Performance Index rankings (2023) for more than 400 cargo hubs, based on vessel time in port.
Here are the top 10 container ports in those rankings….. and the bottom 10. How many could you place on a world map
?