In the first decade of July 2023, strong winds carried multiple plumes of dust and sand from the Namib desert, located along the southwestern coast of Africa. These plumes can be seen drifting westward in a captivating display captured by a Copernicus Sentinel-3 satellite on 11 July. Such occurrences are not uncommon in this arid region, where...

Over the past few months, record sea water temperatures have been recorded in northern Atlantic Ocean and in the Mediterranean Sea. According to Mercator Ocean, the western Mediterranean is currently experiencing a "moderate" sea heatwave. However, the heatwave appears to be intensifying, shifting from moderate to strong category, particularly...

This Copernicus Sentinel-2 image from 11 July 2023 shows the lava flows and the plume emitted by the Fagradalsfjall volcano in Iceland. The eruption began on the same day the image was acquired, following an intense seismic swarm in the region.  The eruption site is an uninhabited valley near the Litli-Hrútur mountain, approximately 30...

A severe heatwave is ongoing in Europe. Temperature records broken in France, Switzerland, Germany and Spain.  On 11 July 2023, the Land Surface Temperature (LST) in some areas of Extremadura (Spain) exceeded 60°C, as highlighted in this data visualisation derived from measurements from the Copernicus Sentinel-3 Sea and Land Surface Temperature...

These images, acquired by Copernicus-2 Sentinel satellites on 28 June 2022 and 8 July 2023, show the impact of drought on the Rhine river in the area of Koblenz, Germany. This waterway plays an important role in Europe's inland transport, handling approximately 75 percent of all goods transported by this method.    Currently, the water level in...

This image, acquired by one of the Copernicus Sentinel-2 satellites on 8 July 2023, shows the newly commissioned Brăila Bridge in Romania. At nearly 2 km in length, it is the third longest suspension bridge in Europe. It will reduce travel times, vehicle operating costs, exposure of residents to air and noise pollutants, and improve the quality...

This image, based on Copernicus Climate Change Service data, shows the surface air temperature anomaly for June 2023 in Europe. At more than 0.5°C above the average for the years 1991 to 2020, June 2023 broke the previous record set in June 2019 by a significant margin. Northwest Europe endured record-breaking high temperatures in June. Large...

This image, acquired by one of the Copernicus Sentinel-2 satellites on 6 July 2023, shows the Greek island of Tinos. Tinos has rich biodiversity which is protected under the EU Habitats Directive. This directive aims to protect over a thousand species, including mammals, reptiles, amphibians, fish, invertebrates, and plants, as well as 230...

Acquired on 5 July 2023, this Copernicus Sentinel-3 image reveals a wide view of Storm Poly raging across the Netherlands. With wind gusts of 146 km/h, it was the strongest summer storm on record for the country. It caused widespread tree damage, prompting Dutch authorities to issue warnings advising people to remain indoors. Air and train...

This image, acquired by one of the Copernicus Sentinel-2 satellites on 2 July 2023, highlights Cestas Solar Park in Southwestern France. At its opening on December 1, 2015, it was Europe’s largest solar power station. With a 300-megawatt capacity, the station generates power for more than 240,000 residents of France’s Nouvelle-Aquitaine...

Greenland is grappling with a melting ice sheet episode, attributable to the persistent heatwave sweeping across the Arctic.   Images from the Copernicus Sentinel-2 satellites, captured on 29 June and 3 July, show the changes in snow coverage on Nares Land, a northern Greenland island. The air temperature, about ten °C higher than the average...

This image, which visualises the Antarctic sea ice extent based on Copernicus Marine Service data, shows the negative Antarctic sea ice anomaly of June 2023, when the ice surface stood at circa 2.5 million km2 below the average area for the period.  For several weeks in a row, the negative Antarctic sea ice anomaly increased, until it reached...

This image, acquired by one of the Copernicus Sentinel-3 satellites on 29 June 2023, shows melting ice trails in northern Greenland. A remarkable heatwave in Greenland is causing extensive melting conditions throughout the northern ice sheet.  Climate change is having a profound impact on the Earth's polar regions, leading to a rapid rise in...

This image, acquired by one of the Copernicus Sentinel-2 satellites on 28 June 2023, shows the trail of destruction left by the wildfires in Quebec. The wildfire season in Canada has now become the worst on record. The fires have ravaged more than 8.1 million hectares of land across the country, surpassing the previous record set in 1989. As of...

This image, acquired by one of the Copernicus Sentinel-2 satellites on 27 June 2023, shows the island of Madeira. Part of a larger archipelago comprising four islands and designated as an autonomous Portuguese region, Madeira is located off the western Moroccan coast.  The day this image was acquired was the hottest day in Madeira’s climatic...

This image, acquired by one of the Copernicus Sentinel-3 satellites on 28 June 2023, shows plumes of smoke from the Canadian wildfires reaching Sardegna after making their way across the Atlantic Ocean and over the Iberian Peninsula. The smoke has covered the central-northern part of the island after traveling thousands of kilometres and is now...

According to the Combined Drought Indicator (CDI) data by the Copernicus Emergency Management Service (CEMS) European Drought Observatory (EDO), the Iberian Peninsula is suffering from a prolonged drought. In the first ten days of June, 60% of the territory was under “alert” conditions. The drought has had a severe impact on crops, and the...

This image, acquired by one of the Copernicus Sentinel-3 satellites on 25 June 2023, shows the intricate swirls from phytoplankton blooms in the North Sea. The blooms take on various shades, ranging from emerald green to turquoise, creating a visually captivating tableau against the deep blue of the surrounding water.  Phytoplankton contribute...

This image, captured by one of the Copernicus Sentinel-2 satellites on 10 June 2023, shows the Drömling Biosphere Reserve, one of the 11 new biosphere reserves recently designated by UNESCO.    Located on both sides of the border between Saxony-Anhalt and Lower Saxony, this reserve is a vibrant mosaic of ecosystems shaped by centuries of human...

These images, acquired by Copernicus Sentinel-2 satellites on 29 June 2022 and 14 June 2023, show the Canelon Grande Reservoir in Montevideo, Uruguay, which is going through an unprecedented water crisis. Uruguay is facing its worst drought in decades, caused by precipitation deficits, above-average temperatures and recurrent heatwaves. The...