This Copernicus Sentinel-2 image from 11 April 2025 shows the area around Logatec, Slovenia. This region is home to many Natura 2000 sites which are the focus of a European Commission-funded LIFE Project to prevent and manage adverse impacts of invasive alien plant species. In Slovenia, 19 terrestrial habitat types – predominantly meadows in...

Since the beginning of 2025, Mexico has been affected by a series of severe forest fires. According to the National Forestry Commission, over 2,800 forest fires have been recorded since January, across all of the country’s states. The fires have burnt over 215,000 hectares of land, making 2025 the third most severe year on record in terms of...

As Southeast Asia’s largest urban area, Jakarta, Indonesia is a major centre of economic activity and a vibrant melting pot of cultures.  Situated on the north-west coast of Java—Indonesia’s most populous island— Jakarta sits in a low-lying coastal basin with an average elevation of just 8 metres above sea level. The city’s rapid urban growth,...

According to the latest Global Drought Observatory Report published by the Copernicus Emergency Management Service, vast parts of southern Africa have been affected by a severe drought, particularly within the Zambezi Basin. Very low discharge has been registered in many rivers in the same area. A comparison of these Copernicus Sentinel-2...

March 2025 was the driest March ever recorded in Germany. In some regions, the moisture in the upper soil layers was up to 20% below the long-term minimum levels. On 12 April 2025, the water level of the Rhine River in Cologne measured 1.54 metres – about half the usual level for the period.   In these Copernicus Sentinel-2 images acquired on 6...

The Île de Ré Bridge (Pont de l'île de Ré) connects the French mainland city of La Rochelle to the scenic Île de Ré, off the west coast of France. Spanning approximately 3 kilometres, it was inaugurated in 1988 and has since become a vital link for residents and tourists alike. The bridge not only facilitates easy access to the island—famous...

In mid-April 2025, a combination of meteorological phenomena began to affect Italy, as Sirocco winds transported large quantities of Saharan dust across the Mediterranean. This event led to hazy skies and a distinct yellowish tint over southern regions and the major islands, particularly Sicily.   This Copernicus Sentinel-3 image, acquired on...

Nea Potidea is a picturesque coastal village located at the entrance of the Kassandra peninsula in Halkidiki, northern Greece. Nea Potidea is built near the site of ancient Potidaea, a city founded by Corinthians in the 7th century BC, and later reconstructed by Cassander of Macedon. Today, remnants of its ancient past, including parts of the...

The Copernicus Climate Change Service (C3S) released the ‘European State of the Climate 2024 Report’ on 15 April 2025, delivering key insights on the state of Europe’s climate in the previous year. One of the key findings is that during the 2023–2024 hydrological year, glaciers across all European regions were affected by ice loss. In the Alps,...

On 15 April 2025, the Copernicus Climate Change Service (C3S) released the ‘European State of the Climate 2024 Report’. According to its findings, 2024 was the warmest year on record in Europe. Record-high annual temperatures were reached in around 48% of the continent, particularly in central, eastern, and southeastern Europe.  The report...

This Copernicus Sentinel-2 image from 7 May 2024 shows Mount Taranaki, also known as Taranaki Maunga. Located on the west coast of New Zealand's North Island, Mount Taranaki is a dormant stratovolcano standing at 2,518 metres. It is situated within Egmont National Park, New Zealand's second national park, established in 1900. The park's...

The Marsabit National Park is a remarkable oasis of biodiversity located in northern Kenya, approximately 560 kilometres north of Nairobi, near the town of Marsabit. Established in 1949, the park encompasses an area of over 1,550 square kilometres, featuring dense montane forests, extinct volcanic craters, and crater lakes which provide vital...

Nestled in the heart of South Moravia, the city of Brno is surrounded by a diverse landscape of agricultural fields, forests, and rolling hills. As the second-largest city in the Czech Republic, Brno is not only a vibrant cultural and economic hub, but also a gateway to nearby protected landscapes, including the Moravian Karst—a Natura 2000...

In recent years, sea currents have gradually deposited sand along the coastline near Mikoszewo, Poland, where the Vistula River flows into the Gulf of Gdańsk in the Baltic Sea.  In early February 2025, an additional surge of sediment extended the shoreline by approximately 100 metres, forming a new expanse of white sand. With its scenic sea...

Between 1 and 31 March 2025, a series of intense rainfall events transformed the landscape of the Doñana marshes in southern Spain, as shown in these false-colour Copernicus Sentinel-2 images. The image on the right, acquired on 31 March, reveals widespread inundation across the Doñana National Park and its surrounding wetlands. Compared to the...

The Copernicus Climate Change Service (C3S) has published its latest climate bulletin for March 2025. This data visualisation, based on C3S data, shows the total precipitation anomaly in Europe for the month. It highlights that most of southwestern Europe was affected by above average levels of precipitation, particularly over the Iberian...

According to researchers from the National Autonomous University of Mexico, Mexico’s remaining glaciers face extinction within five years due to climate change and volcanic activity. The decline of these glaciers has significant environmental and economic consequences, including those which impact local biodiversity and the availability of...

Hamburg, Germany’s second-largest city, is a major economic hub and home to one of Europe’s busiest seaports. Wilhelmsburg, a quarter of Hamburg, is an island framed by the winding branches of the Elbe, known for its mix of industrial sites and green urban spaces. Wilhelmsburg is also part of Hamburg’s flood management system—an increasingly...

Hamina is a fortress town in southeastern Finland, known for its unique circular layout with the Town Hall positioned at its centre. Located nearby, on Finland’s southern coast, the Port of Hamina serves as the country’s leading port for the wood processing industry. While Hamina Port covers a total concession area of over 240,000 m2, it is...

This Copernicus Sentinel-3 image from 2 April 2025 provides a rare, cloud-free view of the UK and Ireland. From the green lowlands of Ireland and England to the hills of Wales and the rugged Highlands of Scotland, the amazing landscape is clearly visible from space, along with sediment patterns in the surrounding coastal waters. Copernicus data...