Out-of-control wildfires raging across western Canada continue to pose a significant threat to both populated areas and natural landscapes.Entire communities have been forced to evacuate due to the escalating inferno. Despite the relentless efforts of firefighters and emergency services, the blazes have proved challenging to contain and...

Emilia-Romagna, an Italian region known for its rich history and culture, is being devastated by unprecedented floods which started in mid-May 2023.  Heavy rains led to the overflow of twenty-three rivers across the region, causing widespread damage and displacing more than 30,000 residents. This catastrophic event claimed the lives of 14...

This image, acquired by one of the Copernicus Sentinel-2 satellites on 16 May 2023, shows Iles Chausey, a pristine natural reserve situated off the coast of Normandy, France.  Renowned for its rich biodiversity and picturesque landscapes, the Iles Chausey archipelago is among the most iconic Natura 2000 (N2K) sites.  20 May marks the 31st...

This image acquired by one of the Copernicus Sentinel-2 satellites on 10 May 2023 shows Helsinki, the capital of Finland.  Helsinki is renowned for its architectural beauty, rich culture, and close connection to the Baltic Sea. According to a recent study published by the Aalto University, Finland will face new challenges in the coming years...

This image, acquired by one of the Copernicus Sentinel-2 satellites on 14 May 2023, shows Ny-Ålesund, a settlement in the northwestern part of Spitsbergen, Svalbard.  Ny-Ålesund has considerable international importance as a scientific research base for the study of the polar environment and the impact of climate change on this archipelago....

Canada grapples with an unrelenting and devastating wildfire crisis, showing no signs of abating.  Alberta continues to be severely affected, with approximately 525,000 hectares of land scorched, making the 2023 fire season the fifth-busiest on record. Unfortunately, the situation is no better in other provinces. This image, captured by one of...

This image, acquired by one of the Copernicus Sentinel-2 satellites on 13 May 2023, shows the town of Arviat, a small settlement located at the northern end of the Hudson Bay, close to the Arctic Circle, in the territory of Nunavut, Canada.  On the same day the image was acquired, the area was hit by a record heat wave, making it the hottest...

This image, acquired by the Copernicus Sentinel-3 satellites on 14 May, shows Cyclone Mocha before it made landfall along the coasts of Bangladesh and Myanmar.  Mocha struck the Bay of Bengal coastlines as a category-four equivalent cyclone, bringing heavy rain, winds of up to 195 km/h, and coastal flooding. Myanmar, particularly the western...

This image, acquired by one of the Copernicus Sentinel-2 satellites on 22 October 2022, shows the Petermann Glacier, one of the largest glaciers in Greenland.  Scientists monitor Pettermann due to its rapid retreat and calving events. A recent study has revealed a concerning new melting source. The glacier's grounding line, where the ice sheet...

The Ebro River, one of Spain's important rivers, is currently strongly affected by the consequences of the ongoing drought. Islets have emerged in its riverbed near the city of Zaragoza as a result of the reduced water supply. This can be seen in this image acquired by one of the Copernicus Sentinel-2 satellites on 5 May 2023. Flow rates have...

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...