Spanning approximately 120 kilometres in width, Thwaites is one of the widest glaciers both in Antarctica and globally. The glacier flows into the Amundsen Sea and produces smaller calving events and occasional large tabular iceberg detachment from its ice tongue. Scientists are particularly concerned about Thwaites because it is melting at an...

In the arid heart of northern Patagonia, the Neuquén and Agrio rivers flow through the dry landscape, forming narrow corridors of life in an otherwise inhospitable environment. These two rivers, clearly visible in this Copernicus Sentinel-2 image from 6 September 2025, play a central role in sustaining vegetation, wildlife, and human activity...

The Richat Structure, a striking circular geological formation in the Sahara Desert of central Mauritania, is among the most distinctive landforms visible from space. Measuring around 40 kilometres in diameter, this feature, also known as the “Eye of the Sahara”, consists of concentric rings of exposed sedimentary rock. Once believed to be an...

Sydney, located on Australia’s south-eastern coast, is the country’s most populous city. It is built around a spectacular natural harbour, which has shaped its development and identity. The city is famous for landmarks, including the Sydney Opera House and Harbour Bridge, as well as its beautiful beaches such as Bondi and Coogee. With the...

Etosha National Park, located in northern Namibia, is one of southern Africa’s largest and most ecologically important protected areas.  A major wildfire recently affected the park, destroying approximately 30% of its grazing pasture and spreading beyond its boundaries into areas near the Angolan border. According to authorities, the fire has...

The Stelvio National Park, located in northern Italy, is one of the largest protected areas in the Alps. Covering areas in the regions of South Tyrol, Trentino, and Lombardy, the park encompasses a vast alpine landscape characterised by glaciers, high mountain peaks, and diverse ecosystems. It plays a key role in the conservation of alpine...

On 30 September 2025, the Copernicus Marine Service released the ninth edition of the Copernicus Ocean State Report (OSR9), an annual assessment of ocean conditions and changes in the ocean and seas at both European and global scales. A central finding of this edition is that every part of the ocean is affected by what the UN has termed the...

The Gries Glacier is a significant alpine glacier located in the Swiss Alps, in the canton of Valais. Recent field measurements indicate that the glacier is melting at an accelerated rate. Between 2000 and 2023, it retreated by around 800 metres. Summer 2025 heavily affected the glacier, leading to a reduction in ice thickness of around six...

In mid-September 2025, a wildfire affected extensive areas of the Western Algarve, Portugal, particularly in the municipalities of Aljezur and Lagos. The fire, now under control, burnt large areas of vegetation and injured 14 people. This false colour image, acquired by one of the Copernicus Sentinel-2 satellites on 22 September 2025, shows the...

Cyclone Gabrielle formed in the central Atlantic Ocean in mid-September 2025. By 22 September, it had rapidly intensified to the east-southeast of Bermuda, reaching Category 4 status with maximum sustained winds of around 220 km/h. This classified it as the second major hurricane of the 2025 Atlantic hurricane season. As it moved across the...

Each year, the Gulf of Panama undergoes a seasonal upwelling event, typically during the dry months from January to April. This process brings cold, nutrient-rich water from the deep ocean to the surface and plays a crucial role in marine productivity and regional climate regulation. However, in 2025, for the first time since records began,...

Rotterdam is a key maritime gateway to Europe, home to the continent’s largest port and a crucial hub for international trade and logistics. This image, acquired on 19 May 2025 by one of the Copernicus Sentinel-2 satellites, shows the vast infrastructure of the Port of Rotterdam, strategically located at the mouth of the Rhine-Meuse-Scheldt...

Typhoon Ragasa, with wind gusts reaching 270 km/h, made landfall on Panuitan Island in the Philippines on 22 September 2025. Thousands of residents were evacuated as authorities issued alerts for severe flooding, landslides, and coastal storm surges. This image, acquired by one of the Copernicus Sentinel-3 satellites on 23 September 2025 at...

Located on the northern shore of Lake Balaton, the Tihany Peninsula is one of the most iconic natural and cultural landmarks in Hungary. Protected as part of the Balaton Uplands National Park, it is renowned for its ancient volcanic landscape, scenic lavender fields, and the historic Benedictine Abbey founded in 1055. The peninsula also...

Heavy rainfall in Niger from 9 to 15 September caused severe flooding in the area, resulting in casualties and widespread damage.   According to the United Nations Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs (UN OCHA), as of 15 September, the floods had affected nearly 268,000 people across 53 departments. Maradi is the worst-affected...

A Calima event affecting the Canary Islands in September 2025 resulted in elevated temperatures, reduced air quality, and increased health risks on the archipelago. As a result, the Spanish State Meteorological Agency (AEMET) issued an orange alert for suspended dust and high air temperatures, while wildfire alerts remained in place across the...

The Gambier Islands are a small group of volcanic islands and atolls in the south-eastern part of French Polynesia, in the South Pacific Ocean. Surrounded by a large lagoon and fringing coral reefs, the Gambier Islands support rich marine biodiversity and hold significant cultural value.   In June 2025, local authorities announced the...

The Fucino Plain is a geographical depression in central Italy which was once covered by a lake. It was drained in the 19th century to reclaim arable land and is now among the most intensively cultivated areas in the country.  This image, acquired by one of the Copernicus Sentinel-2 satellites on 1 September, reveals a striking patchwork of...

Once the world’s largest iceberg, A23a calved from Antarctica’s Filchner–Ronne Ice Shelf in 1986. After spending decades grounded, it re-entered circulation, approaching South Georgia island at the end of 2024. After running aground in shallow waters off of the island in March 2025, it moved along the eastern flank, where it started to fragment...

The Parita Bay in Panama constitutes a key ecosystem for biodiversity and birdlife. It includes protected areas such as the Cenegón del Mangle Wildlife Refuge, Sarigua National Park, Peñón de la Honda Wildlife Refuge, and Las Macanas, one of the largest freshwater wetlands in the country. The area has been left to deteriorate over time,...