The Szczecin Lagoon, also known as the Oder Lagoon, is a large transboundary coastal wetland shared between Poland and Germany. Designated under the Ramsar Convention and belonging to the Natura 2000 network, it is recognised as a wetland of international importance. Situated at the mouth of the Oder River, near the cities of Świnoujście in...

Multiple uncontrolled bushfires have affected the Australian state of Victoria in recent days, forcing communities to evacuate, leading to the closure of hundreds of schools, and leaving thousands of homes without electricity.  This Copernicus Sentinel-2 image, acquired on 9 January 2026, shows the area south of the town of Longwood in northern...

Triglav National Park is Slovenia’s only national park and a designated UNESCO Biosphere Reserve, located in the Julian Alps in the northwest of the country. Dominated by Mount Triglav, Slovenia’s highest peak, the park is characterised by alpine ridges, high plateaus, and karst landscapes.   This false-colour image, acquired on 27 December...

The Copernicus Sentinel-2 optical satellites carry 13 multispectral bands which allow for the detailed observation of the Earth’s surface and coastal areas.  These spectral bands are acquired a fraction of a second apart. As a result, the Earth’s surface is not observed from the exact same viewing angle at the same time. This slight temporal...

In early January 2026, severe rainfall affected the Lazio region in Italy, with river levels rising rapidly in several areas. As a result, regional and national civil protection authorities issued red alerts where precipitation was most intense. This Copernicus Sentinel-1 image, acquired by one of the Copernicus Sentinel-1 satellites on 6...

Cyprus, the third-largest island in the Mediterranean Sea, is characterised by a diverse landscape shaped by mountains, plains, and an extensive coastline. Despite its semi-arid climate, the island supports a mosaic of ecosystems, including forested areas in the Troodos Mountains, agricultural lowlands, and coastal wetlands which provide...

On 1 January 2026, Mount Etna entered a new eruptive phase, with lava emerging from a fissure vent located approximately 2,000- 2,100 metres above sea level in the Valle del Bove. According to Italy’s National Institute of Geophysics and Volcanology (INGV), no residential areas were at immediate risk, and no infrastructural damage has been...

In early January 2026, heavy snowfall and icy conditions affected large parts of the Netherlands, triggering a severe weather alert in several provinces. The widespread snow cover led to major disruptions, including long traffic tailbacks, hazardous road conditions, and hundreds of cancelled or delayed flights at Schiphol Airport. Rail services...

Greenland’s mountains are crucial for shaping regional climate patterns, influencing ice-sheet dynamics, and directing meltwater to the coast. They also host some of the world’s largest outlet glaciers, which channel ice from the interior towards the ocean and play a key role in sea level rise. In this Copernicus Sentinel-2 satellite image,...

On 3 December 2025, waters along Belgium’s North Sea coast showed clear colour contrasts, revealing active sediment dynamics driven by tidal currents and shallow bathymetry. Such conditions favour the frequent resuspension of sediments, leading to spatially variable turbidity along the coast. This image, acquired on 3 December 2025 by one of...

São Paulo is the largest city in Brazil and a key economic hub in Latin America. Located in the south-eastern region of the country, it serves as the capital of the state of São Paulo. The city has undergone rapid urban growth in recent decades, resulting in a vast metropolitan area characterised by high population density, extensive...

Sal Island, part of the Cape Verde archipelago in the eastern Atlantic Ocean, is characterised by a flat, arid landscape shaped by volcanic origins and persistent trade winds. The island and its marine surroundings host fragile ecosystems, including coral reefs, salt flats, and nesting sites for seabirds and marine turtles. These environments...

2025 represented an unprecedented year for the EU Space Programme, particularly regarding the expansion of the Copernicus Sentinel family. Europe achieved a notable pace of satellite deployments, with the successful launches of Sentinel-4A, Sentinel-5A, Sentinel-1D, and Sentinel-6B. In parallel with these milestones, the Copernicus Image of the...

Daugavpils, Latvia’s second-largest city, lies to the south-east of the country and has long served as a key regional centre. Its development and identity are closely tied to the Daugava River, which flows through the city, shaping both the landscape and local life. Along its banks, forests, wetlands, and floodplains support diverse wildlife,...

The Teshekpuk Lake Special Area, situated on Alaska’s North Slope, is one of the most ecologically important Arctic wetland systems in North America. Recognised for its high conservation value, the area encompasses extensive tundra landscapes shaped by permafrost, shallow lakes, and wetlands. These habitats are important for migratory birds,...

Iceland’s glaciers are among the most prominent in Europe and play an important role in regulating freshwater resources and sea level contribution. In recent decades, they have shown sustained retreat and thinning, reflecting rising air temperatures and changing precipitation patterns associated with climate change, trends that are closely...

The Istrian Peninsula, the largest peninsula in the Adriatic Sea, is a region of high ecological value. It hosts a mosaic of karst hills, coastal wetlands, and productive marine habitats which support diverse wildlife. Its rugged shoreline, dotted with islands and bays, provides important breeding and feeding grounds for fish and seabirds,...

The 2025 Antarctic ozone hole closed on 1 December, marking the earliest closure since 2019. This year’s ozone hole was also relatively small for the second consecutive year, especially when compared to the larger and more persistent ozone holes observed between 2020 and 2023. It also exhibited higher ozone concentrations, raising hopes for...

Located in southern Chile’s Los Ríos Region, the city of Valdivia has been internationally designated under the Ramsar Convention as Latin America’s first “Wetland City”. The recognition comes after decades of citizen driven action to protect the city’s rivers, floodplains and coastal wetlands, which provide habitats for wildlife and act as...

The recently published Forest Fires in Europe, Middle East and North Africa 2024 Report, based on data from the European Forest Fire Information System (EFFIS), indicates that although last year’s fire season was classified as a moderate wildfire year for the EU, it remained above the 17-year average. This data visualisation shows the...