Final answer:
The latest cartographic catastrophes include the environmental disaster of the Aral Sea's deterioration and natural disasters such as the eruption of Mount Pinatubo and the 2004 earthquake and tsunami in the Indian Ocean, which have impacted maps and our geographic understanding.
Step-by-step explanation:
The term 'cartographic catastrophe' typically refers to significant errors or problems in map-making that lead to widespread misconception or have serious consequences. Considering this definition, one might consider the deterioration of the Aral Sea as among the latest cartographic catastrophes. The Aral Sea crisis, caused in part by the diversion of rivers for cotton cultivation, is a major environmental disaster that has led to the loss of marine life and waterfowl habitats, while also changing the map of the region. Another recent and significant event affecting cartography is the eruption of Mount Pinatubo in 1991 which had global atmospheric effects, or the devastating Indian Ocean tsunami of 2004 initiated by a magnitude 9.0 earthquake. Each of these events not only reshaped the physical landscape but challenged the accuracy and adequacy of existing maps and our understanding of geographic spaces.