Genoa, located in northwestern Italy, is a historic port city along the Ligurian Sea. Surrounded by steep hills and mountains, it is characterised by a rugged landscape that has shaped its development. The city’s geography has contributed to its growth as a maritime and commercial hub since ancient times.  The city is also known for its narrow,...

Barranquilla, located in northern Colombia, is positioned along the western bank of the Magdalena River near its mouth at the Caribbean Sea. This strategic geographic location has made Barranquilla an important port and commercial hub, earning it the nickname ‘the Golden Gate of Colombia’ for its role in facilitating trade between the interior...

Lima, the capital of Peru, is located on the central coast of the country, nestled between the Pacific Ocean and the rugged Andean foothills. The city sits at an elevation of about 150 metres above sea level, with the surrounding landscape consisting of cliffs and valleys. The city’s geography plays a key role in shaping its mild, temperate...

In northern Finland lies Rovaniemi, the capital of Lapland and a popular gateway to the Arctic. Known as the official hometown of Santa Claus, it attracts visitors year-round, providing unique experiences such as crossing the Arctic Circle, staying in glass igloos, and viewing the Northern Lights. Rovaniemi is also rich in natural beauty,...

The Torngat Mountains National Park, located in northern Labrador, Canada, is celebrated for its rugged beauty and cultural significance. Covering 9,700 square kilometres, it encompasses towering peaks, fjords, and glacial valleys. The park is named after the Inuktitut word Tongait, meaning ‘place of spirits’, reflecting its deep importance to...

Between October and November 2024, northern Australia was affected by intense bushfires. According to the Copernicus Atmosphere Monitoring Service (CAMS), which has been tracking the situation, the emissions generated by the fires have surpassed average levels. The region of Queensland has been particularly impacted, recording its highest...

With a surface area of almost 3,500 square kilometres and a thickness of 400 metres, A23a is the largest iceberg in the world. After calving from the Filchner-Ronne ice shelf in West Antarctica in 1986, the iceberg was stuck on the floor of the Antarctic Ocean for over 30 years. However, it has recently started to move again, drifting northward...

In 2024, Belgium was affected by unusually wet weather. This data visualisation, produced using data from the Copernicus Climate Change Service (C3S), shows the precipitation anomaly in Belgium for each month of 2024. The data reveals that the precipitation anomaly was especially high in May, while November marked the first month of the year...

Following Storm Dorothea, the Spanish Canary Islands were affected by a haze brought on by strong gusts of wind on 17 December 2024, which carried suspended dust from the Sahara Desert. This dense haze, known locally as calima, led to decreased air quality in several areas. The islands of Lanzarote and Fuerteventura were the hardest hit, with...

On 14 December 2024, Cyclone Chido, a Category 4 storm, hit Mayotte, a French archipelago in the Indian Ocean near Madagascar. With winds exceeding 220 km/h, Chido was the strongest storm to affect the islands in over 90 years, destroying buildings and key infrastructure, including roads and electrical grids, and impacting the ability of rescue...

On 15 December 2024, the Pyrenees mountains were hit by an intense snowstorm. In Spain, the Ebro Valley was affected by morning fog and widespread frost, especially in low-lying areas and depressions. Amid the snowfall, fog, and frost, authorities have advised drivers and residents to take precautions, as these conditions can impact visibility...

In 2024, Ecuador was hit by a series of devastating forest fires, exacerbated by the worst drought in sixty years. In mid-November, local authorities declared a national state of emergency for 60 days, mobilising resources to fight the fires and tackle the energy crisis caused by the drought. The province of Azuay, home to Ecuador's third...

Lake Engure, a shallow coastal lake in Latvia, is a key bird habitat and Ramsar site. The lake is home to 186 species of nesting birds, 48 of which are considered threatened in Europe, and hosts at least 25,000 waterbirds at the end of the breeding season. The area is rich in botanical diversity, with over 800 plant species and features varied...

Jebel Uweinat is a prominent mountain massif located at the border of Egypt, Libya, and Sudan, within the Sahara Desert. Known for its dramatic, rugged peaks and striking geological features, Mount Uwaynat rises to about 2,000 metres, making it one of the highest points in the region. The area is renowned for its prehistoric rock art, depicting...

On 9 December 2024, a wildfire, identified by the local authorities as Franklin Fire, broke out in Malibu, California, destroying multiple structures and forcing the evacuation of 6,300 people. Two days after the start of the event, the Franklin Fire remained only 7% contained, causing school closures and the deployment of almost 2,000...

Venice, Italy, is a historic city renowned for its canals, stunning architecture, and rich cultural heritage, drawing millions of visitors each year.   In November 2019, the worst recorded flood since 1966 affected more than 80% of the city, causing millions of euros in damage. Since then, restoration efforts have been underway to repair the...

The Ottenby nature reserve, located on the southern tip of Öland, Sweden, is a diverse natural area renowned for its rich biodiversity. This Natura 2000 and Ramsar Site includes wet grasslands, beaches, pastures, and sandbanks. Known as one of the top areas for birdwatching in Sweden, 377 species of birds have been observed at Ottenby. At the...

Home Reef is an underwater volcano in the Tonga Archipelago, characterised by cyclical eruptions which can last from a few days to several weeks. While not constantly active, its eruptions can produce hazards such as tsunamis, ashfall, and pyroclastic flows, as in the eruption of January 2022, which caused widespread damage to nearby islands.  ...

The Copernicus Climate Change Service (C3S) has published its latest monthly Climate Bulletin, focused on key climate trends in November 2024. The bulletin indicates that November 2024 was the second-warmest November globally, following November 2023, with an average surface air temperature of 14.10°C, which is 0.73°C above the 1991-2020...

With over 70% of Europeans living in urban areas, cities are key to implementing the European Green Deal and fostering a sustainable, low-carbon society. Since 2010, the European Green Capital Award has recognised cities’ efforts to become greener and cleaner. On 27 November 2024, the European Commission announced Guimarães, Portugal, as the...