What Is A Bomb Cyclone? | November 21, 2024

Summary

In this episode of CNN 10, the host explores various impactful stories, starting with the sentencing of 45 Hong Kong activists for subversion in connection with a 2020 primary election. Next, viewers learn about the destructive power of bomb cyclones and atmospheric rivers hitting the West Coast. A spotlight on pollution in the Democratic Republic of Congo reveals how waste is blocking a hydroelectric dam and causing power outages. The show ends on a high note with a world record broken by USC students who launched a rocket reaching new heights. The episode is filled with a mix of global issues, scientific breakthroughs, and human resilience.

Takeaways

• 😀 A random thought to start the day: Why is the plural of 'goose' 'geese' but the plural of 'moose' isn't 'meese'?
• ⚖️ In Hong Kong, 45 pro-democracy activists, including Joshua Wong, were sentenced to prison for conspiracy to commit subversion following a 2020 primary election, marking a significant crackdown on democratic freedoms.
• 🌧️ The U.S. West Coast and parts of British Columbia are battling a bomb cyclone and atmospheric river, causing hurricane-force winds, heavy rain, and the risk of flooding and snow.
• 🌍 Atmospheric rivers can carry massive amounts of moisture and cause extreme rainfall, floods, and mudslides, significantly impacting the region's economy and infrastructure.
• 🔌 In the Democratic Republic of the Congo, plastic waste is blocking a hydroelectric dam, leading to power outages and economic difficulties for local businesses.
• 🛠️ Small businesses in the DRC are struggling with power disruptions caused by plastic waste clogging the local dam, impacting their operations.
• 📚 500 million plastic straws are used daily in the U.S., enough to fill 125 school buses each day, contributing significantly to waste and pollution.
• 🚀 Students from the University of Southern California broke an international record by launching a rocket, 'Aftershock 2', that reached 470,000 feet—surpassing the previous amateur record by almost a million feet.
• 💥 The USC rocket launch marks a historic achievement, sending a student-built rocket into space beyond Earth's atmosphere, an accomplishment previously only achieved by governmental and commercial entities.
• 📉 The accumulation of trash in lakes and dams in the DRC is not only an environmental problem but also causes major disruptions in local electricity generation and economic productivity.
• 🏙️ Hong Kong's pro-democracy activists continue to face legal challenges as the Chinese government's national security law continues to clamp down on political dissent and activism.

Q & A

What was the nature of the charges against the 45 individuals sentenced in Hong Kong?

The 45 individuals were convicted of conspiracy to commit subversion, which is an attempt to overthrow or undermine the power and authority of the government. The charges stemmed from their involvement in an unofficial primary election held in 2020.

How severe were the sentences for the 45 defendants in Hong Kong?

The sentences ranged from 50 months to 10 years in prison, with the total combined sentence amounting to over 240 years, highlighting the severity of the punishment.

What event in Hong Kong triggered the sentencing of these individuals?

The sentencing followed the 2020 unofficial primary election organized by pro-democracy politicians and activists, which was deemed by the government as part of a plot to overthrow the government.

What is a bomb cyclone, and how did it affect the West Coast of the U.S. and British Columbia?

A bomb cyclone is a rapidly intensifying storm that brings powerful winds and heavy rainfall. It combined with an atmospheric river, causing major flooding, strong winds, and the potential for significant economic damage, affecting the U.S. West Coast and parts of British Columbia.

What is an atmospheric river, and how does it contribute to extreme weather events?

An atmospheric river is a long, concentrated region in the atmosphere that carries large amounts of moisture, often from the tropics to mid-latitudes. It can lead to extreme rainfall, flooding, and mudslides, as seen during the recent storms in the U.S. and Canada.

How much water can an atmospheric river carry, and how does it compare to the Mississippi River?

An atmospheric river can carry as much as 25 times the amount of water that flows through the Mississippi River, making it a significant source of moisture for extreme weather events.

What environmental issue is impacting the Democratic Republic of the Congo, and what are its consequences?

In the Democratic Republic of the Congo, a massive accumulation of garbage, including plastic bottles and cans, has blocked a hydroelectric dam. This has led to power outages, negatively impacting local businesses and the economy.

What are the proposed solutions to the waste management issues affecting the hydroelectric dam in the DRC?

One proposed solution is for individual homes to manage waste better, enabling waste collection companies to remove the trash and prevent it from reaching the lake, which would help alleviate the power outage issue.

How did USC students break an international amateur rocket record?

Students from the University of Southern California’s rocket lab built and launched a rocket called Aftershock 2, which reached an altitude of 470,000 feet, breaking the previous international record by nearly one million feet.

What significance does the USC rocket achievement have in the field of amateur rocketry?

The achievement is significant because it set a new international amateur record, demonstrating the potential of student-built rockets to reach heights that surpass those of non-governmental and non-commercial groups, marking a major milestone in amateur rocketry.