Interesting maps - week 1

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The data for this map was compiled by non-profit organization, Food & Water Watch, and was used to create a map to show factory farms in the United States including those for cattle, dairy, hogs, and chickens (broilers and layers). The Food & Water Watch works to ensure all food, water and fish on the market is accessible and safely produced for consumers.  The organization heads campaigns and projects to promote practices and policies in the agriculture sector that are most beneficial for the health of the environment, animals, and of course, the population. I am very interested in agriculture, thus this map attracted my attention.  The concentration of factory farms in the Mid-West, particularly Iowa, Nebraska and Kansas is not surprising as it is well known that much of the United States food is produced in the Mid-West.  What is interesting is the concentration of factory farms in Southern California, as many advertisements declare California has "happy cows."  It is also interesting since I live in Southern California and the awful practice of using factory farms is occurring in my "backyard."

This map was created by the Bureau of Labor Statistics, which shows local unemployment statistics. The map shows unemployment rates by state, based on data from July 2011.  This map is interesting because it shows which states are hurting the most from the economic recession and can be used to prioritize which states should be focused on first for job creation initiatives.  It is not unusual that the states with larger populations also have higher rates of unemployment, since there is more competition to get the jobs that are available at the moment.

This map, produced by the National Snow and Ice Data Center shows the Arctic sea ice extent on September 9th, 2011.  The orange ring shows the "normal" ice extent during previous decades through using the median ice extent for 1979-2000.  This map is particularly interesting to me because I am very passionate about the environment and it helps to show the reality of environmental change that is happening right now.  Though proving the cause of the Arctic ice melting (whether anthropogenic or natural), the map shows that global warming that is causing the ice to melt is undeniable.  The Arctic sea ice has reached its lowest extent for the year and is the  second lowest in the satellite record (since 2007).  Scientists believe that changing winds throughout the fall can reduce ice extent even further and will produce a full analysis in early october.  Maps like this one will be critically important to follow over the next few decades for creating models of sea-level rise and for understanding the potential for coastal flooding in the future because of this ice melting.