A widespread Calima episode has carried Saharan dust across the eastern Atlantic Ocean since mid-February 2026, affecting air quality in the archipelagos along the western African coast. As a consequence of the reduced visibility and increased health risks, ...

Following a period of persistent rainfall in February 2026, sustained high flows have been recorded along the Ebro River, one of the largest rivers in north-eastern Spain. The City Council of Zaragoza, one of Spain’s main cities which lies on the banks of the Ebro River, has ...

Piton de la Fournaise is an active shield volcano located on Réunion Island in the Indian Ocean. It erupted on 13 February, marking its second eruption in 2026. On 14 February 2026, the TROPOMI instrument on board the Copernicus Sentinel-5P satellite acquired ...

Since the beginning of 2026, a succession of low-pressure systems moving in from the Atlantic has affected France, bringing prolonged and heavy rainfall. As a result, several areas of the country have remained under orange or red alert for 30 consecutive days. During this ...

Today, 16 February 2026, Copernicus Sentinel-3A marks ten years in orbit. Since its launch in 2016, the satellite has contributed to the continuity of European ocean and climate records, supporting the long-term observation of environmental change at global scale.

Valletta, a UNESCO World Heritage Site, lies at the centre of one of the Mediterranean’s most densely urbanised islands. Built on a narrow ...

The Gulf of Riga is a shallow, semi-enclosed basin of the Baltic Sea between Latvia and Estonia. Limited water exchange with the wider Baltic Sea, alongside the basin’s modest depth and relatively low salinity make it particularly sensitive to atmospheric conditions, especially during ...

In 2026, Trenčín in Slovakia holds the title of European Capital of Culture, alongside ...

The Copernicus Climate Change Service (C3S) has published its latest monthly Climate Bulletin, focusing on key climate trends in January 2026. The bulletin reports that January 2026 was the fifth-warmest January globally, with an average surface air temperature of 12.95 °C, which ...

A severe drought has been affecting East Africa since September 2025, particularly Somalia, south-eastern Ethiopia, and eastern Kenya. Its magnitude and impact are analysed in the latest Global Drought Observatory Analytical Report published by the Copernicus Emergency Management ...

Storm Leonardo brought heavy and persistent rainfall to both coastal and inland regions of Portugal in early February 2026. Occurring shortly after Storm Kristin, Leonardo impacted already saturated soils and overloaded water systems, further intensifying flooding in the affected ...

Storm Leonardo is an intense extratropical storm which developed over the North Atlantic Ocean in early February 2026. This image shows, at ...

Italy will host the Olympic Winter Games from 6 to 22 February 2026, welcoming athletes, officials, and spectators from around the world. These Copernicus Sentinel-2 images, acquired on 13 December 2025 and 1 February ...

At the end of January 2026, Storm Kristin hit Portugal, causing five casualties, as well as flooding and strong swell along the coast. The Copernicus Emergency Management Service (CEMS) Rapid Mapping was activated ...

Lipno Reservoir, the largest reservoir in the Czech Republic, lies on the upper course of the Vltava River close to the Austrian border and is framed by the forests of the Bohemian Forest region. In winter, the reservoir often freezes, but this winter the lake surface took ...

Since the beginning of 2026, severe floods have affected southern and central Mozambique, inundating about 290,000 hectares. According to the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR), the ongoing flooding has forced more than ...

2 February marks World Wetlands Day, which raises awareness of the important role wetlands play in sustaining life on Earth, their ecological function in supporting migratory bird populations, and the value of traditional knowledge in ...

Stretching across central Bulgaria, the Balkan Mountains, also known as Stara Planina, form a rugged mountain chain between the Danubian Plain and the Thracian Lowland. At their heart lies ...

A cold wave affected Eastern Europe in January 2026, bringing sub-zero temperatures which caused widespread frost and sustained snow cover across Lithuania. This Copernicus Sentinel-2 image, acquired on 24 January 2026, shows the Nagliai Nature Reserve, part of the Curonian Spit

Lanzarote and Fuerteventura are two of the easternmost Canary Islands, located in the Atlantic Ocean off the north-western coast of Africa. The islands are characterised by an arid to semi-arid climate, limited freshwater resources, and predominantly volcanic and sandy terrain, which