Cyclone Michaung is the 6th named storm of the 2023 North Indian Ocean cyclone season.  It is expected to make landfall on 4 December on the east coast of the Indian Peninsula, where an orange cyclone alert has been issued for the provinces of Andhra Pradesh and adjoining North Tamil Nadu-Puducherry.  The area is expected to experience heavy...

The El Niño induced floods continue in the Horn of Africa. The consequences of the torrential rains have affected more than two million people in several areas of Somalia, with over 100 casualties reported and 750,000 persons displaced. This image, acquired by one of the Copernicus Sentinel-2 satellites on 30 November, shows the region of...

The Antarctic Ozone Hole (AOH) is an atmospheric phenomenon that occurs in early austral spring and typically lasts until the end of November, but according to the Copernicus Atmosphere Monitoring Service (CAMS), it has followed an unusual pattern in 2023.  The AOH has appeared several days earlier than usual and is taking an unusually long...

In the fight against climate change, the emphasis often falls on the significance of planting trees, yet coastal wetlands also play a vital role in carbon capture, outperforming even tropical forests. Derrymore Island marshes, nestled amidst the Atlantic waves in Ireland, stand as a natural carbon sink—a subject of intense scrutiny by a team...

The Iwo Jima Volcano is a submarine hot spot located south of the Japanese island of Iwoto. According to the Global Volcanism Programme, it began erupting on 30 October from a vent near Okinahama in the south-eastern part of the island. The eruption has been ongoing for almost a month, and on 1 November it created a new lava island that has...

Somalia has been hit by torrential rains in recent days, causing severe flooding and devastating consequences for local communities. The floods have claimed nearly 100 lives and left more than 650,000 people displaced and homeless.  The town of Beledweyne, visible in this radar image acquired by the Copernicus Sentinel-1A satellites on 26...

In November 2023, as confirmed by the Brazilian Space Research Agency (INPE), the country faced a wildfire crisis with an alarming increase in the number of fires of nearly 3,000 being recorded compared to only 69 wildfires for the same period of the previous year. Among the worst affected areas was the Pantanal Matogressense National Park...

Villarrica, an active volcano located in the southern Andes in Chile, renowned for its symmetrical conical shape and the presence of a persistent lava lake within its crater, is currently on yellow alert.  This alert status, the second level on a scale of four, was confirmed following the detection of explosive activity at the beginning of...

A23a is the largest iceberg in the world, covering almost 4,000 square kilometres and is 400 metres thick. It has been stuck on the Antarctic ocean floor for over 30 years but has recently started to move again and is now drifting towards the Southern Atlantic Ocean.  These radar images acquired by the Copernicus Sentinel-1A satellite on 19 and...

The Dominican Republic has been recently affected by unprecedented rainfall that President Luis Abinader labeled as the “largest rainfall event ever” in the country's history.  This deluge resulted in devastating floods across multiple areas, leading to extensive damage. At least 24 casualties have been reported as well as significant...

In the second decade of November 2023, heavy rains have caused severe flooding and landslides in Brazil. The states of Santa Catarina and Rio Grande do Sul have been the worst hit, with at least six casualties and 1,600 people displaced. The Taquari River has overflown, affecting numerous communities, causing road closures, and prompting local...

According to data from the Copernicus Climate Change Service (C3S), 17 November 2023 marked a significant milestone in the history of temperatures on our planet.  As shown in this data visualisation based on the C3S’ ERA5 data, on that day global air temperatures rose over 2°C above pre-industrial levels, reaching a high of 2.07°C above...

On 25 October, Hurricane Otis struck the Mexican city of Acapulco as the most powerful storm on record to hit Mexico's Pacific coast, with devastating consequences. The Hurricane caused at least 48 casualties, destroyed several thousand homes in the city, and wiped out trees and vegetation. The Mexican government is fighting to get the town...

The French island of Mayotte in the Indian Ocean is currently going through its worst  drought since 1997. As a result, the island's two reservoirs are almost completely dry, at less than 10% of their capacity. This has led to a significant water deficit on the island, affecting the daily lives of its inhabitants. The local town of Mamoudzou is...

The Kealia Pond National Wildlife Refuge on the island of Maui in Hawaii (USA) is a wetland that provides shelter to a wide variety of flora and fauna, especially migratory birds. In recent weeks, its appearance became that of a cotton candy-coloured pond which has captivated locals and intrigued visitors. The phenomenon that caused this sudden...

In recent days, Bolivia and Brazil have been hit by a series of wildfires that have caused the consequential carbon emissions to exceed the average values recorded between 2003 and 2022 for that period in the region, according to the Copernicus Atmosphere Monitoring Service (CAMS). These fires have been devastating and have caused a severe...

After being impacted by a severe drought, the Horn of Africa is now being hit by devastating floods. At this time of year, the region is often affected by heavy rains which lead to flooding, causing extensive damage to the local infrastructure, homes, agriculture and livelihoods. This year, the El Niño meteorological phenomenon is intensifying...

The Rio Negro, a major tributary of the Amazon, is at its lowest level in 120 years. The lack of water is affecting navigation on the River Amazon and the electricity supply to local towns and villages. The region's population is suffering from energy rationing, affecting essential services, and some indigenous communities have seen their water...

Inle Lake, a freshwater lake in the Shan Mountains in eastern Myanmar, has been recognised as a UNESCO World Heritage Site for its outstanding biodiversity and rich cultural heritage. However, the lake's surface area has decreased significantly in recent years due to the expansion of floating farms, mainly used to grow tomatoes. This image...

Mount Etna is an active volcano located in eastern Sicily, Italy.  The third paroxysm of 2023 occurred on 12 November. The lava fountain activity lasted several hours during the night, accompanied by a dense eruptive cloud laden with pyroclastic material (ash and lapilli) which fell in a narrow sector on the eastern slope of the volcano. The...