The heatwave’s effects on soil moisture near Châlons-en-Champagne, France
Since late June 2025, Europe has been affected by an intense heatwave, with temperatures exceeding 40 °C in several countries. The extreme heat has caused widespread disruption, leading to casualties and placing ecosystems and agriculture under severe stress.
These Copernicus Sentinel-2 images, acquired on 22 June and 2 July 2025, show the impact of the heatwave on soil moisture in the agricultural landscape surrounding Châlons-en-Champagne in northern France. The Normalised Difference Moisture Index (NDMI) reveals a stark contrast: blue areas, indicating wetter soils, shrink noticeably, while yellow and red tones, signs of dry or stressed land, expand rapidly over the ten-day period.
Copernicus data provides key insights for monitoring drought progression, helping farmers, planners, and authorities respond with timely adaptation strategies to protect crops, water supplies, and livelihoods.
