Image of the day

Iceberg turns over off Ilulissat, Greenland

Earth Observation | Copernicus
Arctic
Coastal Environment
Glaciers
Satellite image of the coast near Ilulissat, Greenland, on 25 July 2026. Dark blue waters of Disko Bay are scattered with dozens of bright white icebergs of varying sizes drifting away from the mouth of Ilulissat Icefjord, which is covered by a large expanse of sea ice at the lower right. The town of Ilulissat appears along the rocky coastline on the right, with labels identifying the bay, icefjord, and icebergs. An inset map marks the location in Greenland, and Copernicus Sentinel-2 branding, coordinates,
Location: Greenland
Credit: European Union, Copernicus Sentinel-2 imagery

This natural-colour image, acquired by one of the Copernicus Sentinel-2 satellites on 25 July 2026, shows several icebergs drifting across the dark blue waters of Disko Bay, western Greenland. Dense white ice packs the mouth of Ilulissat Icefjord to the east. The ice comes from Jakobshavn, one of Greenland's most active iceberg-producing glaciers.  

On the day this satellite image was acquired, a large iceberg turned over off the town of Ilulissat, generating powerful waves near the coast. Nevertheless, no injuries or damage were reported.  

Copernicus Sentinel-2 data support the monitoring of glacier calving, iceberg movement, and coastal ice conditions, contributing to cryosphere research, maritime situational awareness, and environmental monitoring in the Arctic.