This image, acquired by one of the Copernicus Sentinel-2 satellites on 7 May 2023, shows the Island of Brač, a tourist destination in Croatia's Dalmatian archipelago.  Thanks to its natural beauty and biodiversity, the island is part of the Natura 2000 network. It offers diverse landscapes, from limestone cliffs to rolling hills and lush...

Temperatures above reference average values continue to be recorded in the northern hemisphere. According to the latest climate bulletin published by the Copernicus Climate Change Service (C3S), April 2023 has been the fourth warmest April globally. In particular, air temperatures were above average for the western Mediterranean basin, with...

The smoke clouds generated by the wildfires ongoing in Canada reaches the Atlantic Ocean.  Canada continues to be ravaged by severe wildfires. As of 10 May 2023, more than 100 fires are ongoing across the Alberta Province, and have burned 390,000 hectares in less than a week (an area larger than Luxembourg).  The fires have forced more than...

The French Pyrénées-Orientales department, which borders Spain’s Catalonia autonomous region, will be officially declared to be at drought "crisis" level from 10 May 2023, when bans on car-washing, garden-watering, and pool-filling will also come into effect. This first set of water restrictions is an effort to conserve water resources and...

During the first weekend of May 2023, severe wildfires broke out in the western Canadian province of Alberta. The fires have caused widespread damage and prompted local authorities to declare a state of emergency. 25,000 residents have been forced to evacuate their homes, and over 122,000 hectares have already burnt. Local Authorities have...

The severe drought ongoing in Spain is causing worrisome impacts that are being captured by Copernicus satellites. One region which has been significantly impacted is Extremadura, which has lost its typical green colour due to the lack of precipitation. The difference in vegetation cover is evident when comparing Sentinel-2 images acquired in...

This image, acquired on 3 May 2023, shows the western part of Cyprus, a treasure trove of natural beauty and biodiversity. This region is particularly noteworthy for being home to several Natura 2000 sites, which are designated areas for preserving and protecting the natural habitats and species in the European Union. These include the Pafos...

At the beginning of May 2023, the Emilia Romagna region in northern Italy was affected by devastating floods, which resulted in two casualties and severe damage to homes, agriculture, and infrastructure. The extent of the destruction was evident in the satellite image captured on 4 May by one of the Copernicus Sentinel-3 satellites, which...

Central America is currently suffering from a severe drought that also impacts the Panama Canal, one of the world's most important shipping routes, which connects the Atlantic and Pacific oceans. In recent weeks, the Panama Canal Authority (ACP) has reduced shipping traffic due to lower water supply from the artificial lakes that feed the...

The upper Mississippi basin in the United States is currently facing one of its worst flooding situations in decades due to the excess snowmelt being drained by the river basin.  The severity of the flooding in Prairie du Chien in Wisconsin, one of the worst affected areas, is depicted in this image acquired by one of the Copernicus Sentinel-2...

As spring arrives, the mesmerising tulip fields of the Netherlands burst into full bloom, adorning the European landscape with an impressive array of vibrant colours. This image, acquired by a Copernicus Sentinel-2 satellite on 30 April, shows the breathtaking beauty of the blooming fields near Julianadorp, a picturesque village located in the...

For years, Costa Rica struggled with the devastating consequences of deforestation. The natural landscape was heavily threatened, and the nation's rich biodiversity was at risk.  However, over the past 15 years, Costa Rica has taken massive steps in land restoration, successfully increasing its forest cover from a mere 25% to an impressive 57%....

In the last few days of April, a record heatwave hit Spain, with temperatures reaching the record temperature of 38.8°C at Córdoba airport. The intense heat has exacerbated an ongoing drought, leading to the drying up of several salt lakes in southern Spain that serve as habitats for migratory birds, such as flamingos.  On 26 April, the...

Popocatépetl is one of the most active volcanoes of Mexico. At the end of April 2023, its volcanic activity has increased, with frequent explosions and emissions of ash and toxic gases. The National Centre for Disaster Prevention (CENAPRED) and the National Autonomous University of Mexico (UNAM) have issued a yellow alert and advised people to...

According to the latest climatological bulletin of the Portuguese Institute of Sea and Atmosphere (IPMA), in March 2023, 48% of Portugal was in drought conditions. The worst affected areas are in the south of the country.  This image, acquired by a Copernicus Sentinel-2 satellite on 24 April, shows Algarve, Portugal’s southernmost region and...

This image, acquired by one of the Copernicus Sentinel-2 satellites on 16 April 2023, reveals the stunning landscape of the Dombes area in central France. Dombes has been recently designated as a Ramsar wetland of international importance. With over 1,200 rain-water pools, the Dombes is one of the main inland fish farming territories in France...

The Quelccaya glacier in the Andes of Peru can be seen in this image, captured on 30 November 2022 by one of the Copernicus Sentinel-2 satellites. The Quelccaya glacier, which was once the world's largest tropical ice cap, has been reduced its volume by nearly 50% over the past four decades and is rapidly melting at a rate of about 5% per year...

Drought continues to grip Spain. One of the most affected areas is Andalusia, particularly in the area of the Guadalquivir River Basin. The reservoirs in the basin are currently at a low capacity of 25.5%, which is 36.5% below the average of the last 25 years. This has resulted from consecutive years of high temperatures and low rainfall, which...

This image, acquired on 19 April by one of the Copernicus Sentinel-2 satellites, depicts Lake Saint Clair, one of the Great Lakes of North America.  During the winter months, the lake's climate is shaped by cold air masses from the Article Circle, resulting in the formation of sea ice in the lake's waters and heavy snowfall in surrounding...

This mosaic, created by combining Copernicus Sentinel-3 images captured on 20 April, showcases intricate and diverse weather systems across Europe and the Atlantic Ocean.  The image reveals high-pressure systems over Scandinavia, the United Kingdom, and Ireland, as well as cyclonic structures over the Atlantic Ocean, Germany, the Netherlands,...