The Guardian
recently reported that, according to the 2011 edition of the Times Atlas, a new island called Uunartoq Qeqertaq has emerged off the coast of Greenland due to a 15% loss in glacial cover since 1999. However,
glaciologists were quick to point out that this was deeply improbable. Ejo Schrama, a professor at TU Delft whose research interests include satellite mapping of Greenland, has posted a
copy of a letter subscribed by several scientists at the Scott Polar Research Insititute expressing displeasure/disgruntlement with the publishers of the atlas (the linked post has been continually updated as events have warranted, so keep an eye out). The publishers have issued a
semi-apologetic statement, but why was the mistake made in the first place? ScienceInsider
thinks they might have worked out the answer (see the update in the second half of the article).
posted by Dim Siawns
on Sep 23, 2011 -
31 comments
Kibera is a slum in the southwest of Nairobi, often called the biggest slum in the world; some estimates of the population put it as
high as 1.5m, although the 2009 Kenyan census puts the population at a rather more sober
170k(ish). Now, Kiberans are carrying out two similarly named but unaffiliated projects,
Map Kibera and
Map Kibera Project, to create maps of their home. MKP has a pair of rather slick-looking PDF maps showing the
terrain and
structures in Kibera. MK uses
OpenStreetMap, which means that their cartographers can be rapidly update it to more accurately reflect how quickly things change in Kibera. They also have, inevitably, a
twitter account,
flickr stream and
a blog to keep the world up to date with their work, including their ambition to start mapping another Nairobi slum, Mathare.
Via
the Beeb, which also has a nice wee audio slideshow about MK.
posted by Dim Siawns
on Jan 18, 2011 -
8 comments
Thomas Lessman presents a selection of political
maps of Europe, Asia and Africa throughout ancient and mediaeval history. Watch the changes on the map through the
fall of Rome, peruse the patchwork of kingdoms in Southeast Asia at the heyday of the
Srivijaya Empire, or check out just
how much land Attila ruled at the height of his power. Some of his references have some good stuff as well, including more detailed maps of
Europe for the last two millennia, as well as the staggeringly comprehensive Friesian history website
previously linked on the blue.
posted by Dim Siawns
on Sep 2, 2010 -
14 comments
