Tromsø, Norway, emerges from the Polar Night season
Tromsø lies about 350 km north of the Arctic Circle in northern Norway and is often described as a gateway to the North Pole. Each winter, the city enters a period of Polar Night, during which the sun remains below the horizon and the city receives only faint daylight for a short period around midday.
This Copernicus Sentinel-2 image from 20 February 2026, is among the first images of the year acquired after the polar night, showing Tromsø and the surrounding area covered in snow.
The joint use of Copernicus Sentinel-1 and Sentinel-2 satellites enables the regular monitoring of Arctic conditions. These data support researchers and decision-makers to better understand the impacts of climate change on these important areas and inform strategies to protect the Arctic environment.
