Located on Ireland’s east coast, Dundalk Bay is a Natura 2000 site, recognised for its importance to an impressive range of marine and coastal species. It is protected under the European Birds Directive due to its role as a habitat for wintering waterbirds and migratory species. The bay's mudflats, sandflats, and estuarine ecosystems support...

This Copernicus Sentinel-3 image from 3 October 2024 shows Hurricane Kirk when it was about 2,000 km southwest of the Azores Archipelago. On the same day on which the image was acquired, Kirk swelled to a Category 4 storm in the central Atlantic Ocean as it made its way northeast, skirting the Caribbean islands and the eastern coast of the...

A recent analysis of the UNESCO World Heritage Sites threatened by climate change suggests that 17 of the 50 most at-risk sites are located on European territory. While flooding and drought were the leading potential hazards to the landmarks, coastal erosion, landslides, extreme temperatures, and storms could also pose threats to these...

This image, acquired by one of the Copernicus Sentinel-2 satellites on 1 October 2024, shows a series of ephemeral lagoons formed after torrential rains in Erg Chebbi, a sea of star dunes in the Sahara Desert in Morocco. These lagoons were formed by heavy rains in recent weeks. After seven years of drought, rainfall caused rivers from the Atlas...

This image, acquired by one of the Copernicus Sentinel-2 satellites on 18 June 2024, shows colourful fields of crops along the blue-coloured Danube River flowing through Austria and Slovakia. The cities of Vienna and Bratislava are visible in the left and right of the image, respectively. Copernicus plays a key role in enabling smarter,...

This year, over half of the Netherlands' electricity has been produced from renewable sources like wind and solar power. In total, 32.3 billion kilowatt-hours were generated from renewables, accounting for 53% of the country's electricity production. Wind energy saw a significant increase, rising by a third to 17.4 billion kilowatt-hours, with...

On 29 September 2024, a wildfire broke out in the Peloponnese (Greece), prompting the evacuation of several villages. 350 firefighters were dispatched to battle the blaze, which spread rapidly due to strong winds. At least two deaths caused by the fire have been reported. Greece has been affected by more than 4,500 wildfires during the summer...

This Copernicus Sentinel-2 image, acquired on 10 September 2024, shows the Guadiana Estuary on the border of Portugal and Spain where the Guadiana River meets the Atlantic Ocean. This region is rich in biodiversity, with wetlands, salt marshes, a variety of fish and bird species, and at least 460 recorded plant species. Its waters play a...

This Copernicus Sentinel-2 image acquired on 24 September 2024 shows a depleted Lake Tefé in northwestern Brazil. The city of Tefé, located along the Solimões River—one of the Amazon’s main tributaries—is also visible. This part of the Amazon Basin is currently facing record-low water levels due to an unprecedented drought. In 2024, the Amazon...

As of September 2024, nine provinces in Cambodia have been affected by severe flooding, which has damaged thousands of homes and led to the evacuation of hundreds of families. At least 9,000 hectares of rice paddies have been impacted by the flooding.  Authorities have issued warnings to residents living along the Mekong River, the waters of...

Hurricane Helene made landfall in northwestern Florida, USA, on 26 September 2024 as a powerful Category 4 storm and one of the largest storms in the Gulf of Mexico in the last century. With maximum sustained winds reaching 225 kilometers per hour, Helene triggered widespread hurricane, wind, and flash flood watches and warnings for 60 million...

The newly launched Copernicus Sentinel-2C satellite has captured an image you wouldn't expect – a spectacular view of the Moon. While the satellite is typically focused on Earth Observation, this image was acquired on 20 September as part of its calibration process. The Moon’s stable and well-known light intensity provides a perfect reference...

On 23 September 2024, Hurricane John, a Category 3 storm, made landfall on Mexico’s southern coast, bringing winds of 190 kilometres per hour. By 24 September, the hurricane had weakened to a tropical depression with winds of 55 kilometres per hour. In its wake, John left behind damaged infrastructure and power outages. At least three people...

During the night of 22 September 2024, the air temperature in the town of Narsarsuaq in southern Greenland reached a record high of 15.3°C. This was the hottest September night in the area's recorded history and one of the highest minimum temperatures ever recorded in Greenland.  High temperatures continued throughout the following days....

On 21 September 2024, unusually heavy snowfall affected parts of southern Africa, with some areas in Lesotho and South Africa receiving up to two metres of snow. Authorities in South Africa issued warnings about the snowfall and potential for black ice, and three border posts with Lesotho have been closed due to dangerous conditions. The snow...

Storm Boris, the powerful weather system which swept across central and eastern Europe at the beginning of September 2024, has caused severe flooding in Italy, particularly in the Emilia-Romagna Region.  This area, already devastated by a major flood in May 2023, is once again facing the consequences of the intense rainfall which occurred...

In September 2024, the lower South Island of New Zealand received heavy rain and snowfall, causing widespread disruptions. Power outages, school closures, and road blockages were reported across the region, with authorities issuing warnings for significant snow and rain.  Despite the challenges, the fresh snow brought joy to skiers in...

Since the start of September 2024, hundreds of firefighters have been battling two large wildfires in San Gabriel Canyon, spanning both Los Angeles and San Bernardino counties in California, USA. The "Bridge Fire" has burned over 22,100 hectares and injured four people. Authorities have ordered evacuations for some residents, as the blaze has...

In late August 2024, northeastern Nigeria was struck by intense rainfall, leading to severe flooding. The city of Maiduguri in Borno State was particularly affected when the Alau Dam, situated 20 kilometres south on the Ngadda River, collapsed on 10 September. This disaster has impacted over one million people, with many losing their homes and...

Starting on 11 September 2024, Central and Eastern Europe has been battered by Storm Boris, which brought up to five times the average monthly rainfall for September in just a few days. Seven people died in Poland, seven in Romania, five in Austria and four in the Czech Republic, officials said on Wednesday, with several missing and hundreds of...