Grande Comore (Ngazidja) is the largest island of the Comoros archipelago, located in the Indian Ocean off the east coast of Africa. It is known for its volcanic landscape, dominated by Mount Karthala, an active volcano and the highest point in the Comoros. The island's capital, Moroni, also serves as the national capital and features a blend...

Erick formed in the Pacific Ocean on 17 June 2025, rapidly intensifying to a Category 4 hurricane offshore, with winds reaching up to 230 km/h. Shortly before making landfall, it weakened to a Category 3 storm. On 19 June, it struck the Mexican coast near Pinotepa Nacional, in the state of Oaxaca, with wind speeds around 200 km/h. Despite...

Georgetown, the capital of Guyana, is situated on the Atlantic coast at the mouth of the Demerara River. The city is the political and cultural heart of the country and home to one of the tallest wooden churches in the world. It further serves as the main commercial and manufacturing centre of Guyana, with exports including sugar, rice,...

Agricultural land covers roughly a third of Europe, and as demand grows for detailed information on how that land is used, the Copernicus Land Monitoring Service has introduced HRL Croplands. This new addition to the High Resolution Layers product portfolio provides consistent, high-resolution data on crop types, farming practices, and land use...

Phytoplankton blooms occur almost every spring in the English Channel, driven by a combination of environmental factors which converge during the seasonal transition. As daylight hours increase and surface waters warm, nutrient inputs from terrestrial runoff and wind-driven vertical mixing create optimal conditions for microalgal growth in the...

The Copernicus Climate Change Service (C3S) has published its latest monthly Climate Bulletin, focused on key climate trends in May 2025. The bulletin reports that May 2025 was the second warmest May on record globally, with an average surface air temperature of 15.79°C, 0.53°C above the 1991-2020 average for the month. In Europe, the average...

San Marino, one of the world’s smallest and oldest republics, is a landlocked microstate nestled within central Italy. Founded in 301 A.D, and despite its small size at just over 60 square km, San Marino has a rich historical and cultural heritage, with well-preserved medieval architecture, narrow cobblestone streets, and stunning views from...

Maldonado, a department and city in southeastern Uruguay, serves as a cultural hub and administrative centre of the department. It is situated near the internationally renowned beach resort of Punta del Este, one of Uruguay's most popular tourist destinations. The department of Maldonado is notable for its growing infrastructure, scenic...

Liechtenstein is a small, landlocked principality sandwiched between Switzerland and Austria in the heart of the Alps. With an area just over 160 square km, the country’s picturesque alpine landscapes make it a popular destination for hiking and winter sports, while its blend of traditional heritage and modern governance reflects a unique...

On 7 June 2025, a rare and intense low-pressure weather system affected parts of South Africa and Lesotho, bringing snow, heavy rainfall, and cold temperatures. The event caused widespread disruption to transportation infrastructure, prompting South African authorities to urge residents to avoid unnecessary travel. The storm further led to...

DWD, CNRS, FMI, and POLIMI | Online | English

Lomé, the capital and largest city of Togo, lies on the Gulf of Guinea in the country’s south-western corner. Bordered directly to the west by the Volta Region of Ghana, Lomé serves as Togo’s administrative and industrial hub, as well as its principal port, exporting commodities such as coffee, cocoa, copra, and palm oil kernels. This image,...

When Myanmar was hit by a strong earthquake, DG ECHO’s European Emergency Response Coordination Centre (ERCC) turned to the Copernicus Emergency Management Service (CEMS) for the rapid mapping and situational awareness to deliver support where it was needed most. In this Observer, we take a close look at how CEMS Rapid Mapping supported relief...

The online user workshop on extreme snow loads across Europe under climate change was a great success.

On 9 June 2025, a thin veil of smoke was observed drifting over several regions of France, including Normandy, Brittany, Occitanie, Auvergne–Rhône-Alpes, and Provence-Alpes-Côte d’Azur. The smoke, originating from the intense wildfires burning in Canada, was carried across the Atlantic and is visible in this Copernicus Sentinel-3 image acquired...

From late May to early June 2025, Sylhet and surrounding districts in northeastern Bangladesh were affected by extreme rainfall. Approximately 405 mm of rain fell within 24 hours on 1 June, making it one of the heaviest downpours of the season.  This Copernicus Sentinel-2 image, acquired on 9 June 2025, shows extensive flooding across the...

Nice, located on the southeastern coast of France along the French Riviera, is known for its stunning Mediterranean setting and rich cultural heritage. Situated between the Alps and the sea, Nice enjoys a mild climate year-round and is the leading resort city of the Côte d’Azur, or French Riviera. The city boasts a unique blend of French and...

The Eastern Mediterranean basin is currently affected by prolonged drought, as reported by the European Drought Observatory of the Copernicus Emergency Management Service (CEMS). These Copernicus Sentinel-2 images illustrate the decline in water levels at the Asprokremmos Reservoir, an important freshwater source for agriculture and local...

This Copernicus Sentinel-2 image shows České Středohoří, or the Central Bohemian Uplands, in the Czech Republic.  This region is the site of the LIFE České Středohoří Project, launched in 2017. The project is dedicated to restoring 277 hectares of unmanaged grasslands through increased support for traditional forms of farming. It also works to...

This Copernicus Sentinel-2 image from 20 March 2025 shows Puntarenas, Costa Rica from above. Puntarenas is a coastal city situated on a narrow peninsula and known for its beautiful beaches and rich marine life. According to the World Bank, a 1-metre rise in sea levels could inundate 90% of the dry land of the city, with flooding possible up to...