At over tens of thousands of years old, the Seine River is central to the landscape of France and, in particular, to the region of Normandy.  Stretching nearly 200km, the river flows through Paris and Rouen, Normandy’s capital, before ending in the English Channel. The river’s significance is reflected in industrial and recreational port...

Limnes Vistonis is an important wetland complex in Greece, covering an area of over 18,000 hectares. This protected site encompasses a variety of habitats, including extensive reedbeds, Tamarix scrubs (among the largest in Greece), salt marshes, dunes, and areas of agricultural cultivation. As a Natura 2000 site, the area is an important...

Spanning over 155,000 hectares, the Lençóis Maranhenses National Park in northeastern Brazil is a unique natural wonder known for its vast, undulating sand dunes with crystal-clear lagoons, which cover over half of the park’s total area. The lagoons are created when rainwater collects in depressions between the dunes. Designated a UNESCO World...

Genoa, located in northwestern Italy, is a historic port city along the Ligurian Sea. Surrounded by steep hills and mountains, it is characterised by a rugged landscape that has shaped its development. The city’s geography has contributed to its growth as a maritime and commercial hub since ancient times.  The city is also known for its narrow,...

Barranquilla, located in northern Colombia, is positioned along the western bank of the Magdalena River near its mouth at the Caribbean Sea. This strategic geographic location has made Barranquilla an important port and commercial hub, earning it the nickname ‘the Golden Gate of Colombia’ for its role in facilitating trade between the interior...

GEO, the global Group on Earth Observations (EO) is an intergovernmental partnership for people, nature, and the planet hosted by the World Meteorological Organisation (WMO).

Lima, the capital of Peru, is located on the central coast of the country, nestled between the Pacific Ocean and the rugged Andean foothills. The city sits at an elevation of about 150 metres above sea level, with the surrounding landscape consisting of cliffs and valleys. The city’s geography plays a key role in shaping its mild, temperate...

In northern Finland lies Rovaniemi, the capital of Lapland and a popular gateway to the Arctic. Known as the official hometown of Santa Claus, it attracts visitors year-round, providing unique experiences such as crossing the Arctic Circle, staying in glass igloos, and viewing the Northern Lights. Rovaniemi is also rich in natural beauty,...

The Torngat Mountains National Park, located in northern Labrador, Canada, is celebrated for its rugged beauty and cultural significance. Covering 9,700 square kilometres, it encompasses towering peaks, fjords, and glacial valleys. The park is named after the Inuktitut word Tongait, meaning ‘place of spirits’, reflecting its deep importance to...

Between October and November 2024, northern Australia was affected by intense bushfires. According to the Copernicus Atmosphere Monitoring Service (CAMS), which has been tracking the situation, the emissions generated by the fires have surpassed average levels. The region of Queensland has been particularly impacted, recording its highest...

With a surface area of almost 3,500 square kilometres and a thickness of 400 metres, A23a is the largest iceberg in the world. After calving from the Filchner-Ronne ice shelf in West Antarctica in 1986, the iceberg was stuck on the floor of the Antarctic Ocean for over 30 years. However, it has recently started to move again, drifting northward...

In 2024, Belgium was affected by unusually wet weather. This data visualisation, produced using data from the Copernicus Climate Change Service (C3S), shows the precipitation anomaly in Belgium for each month of 2024. The data reveals that the precipitation anomaly was especially high in May, while November marked the first month of the year...

Following Storm Dorothea, the Spanish Canary Islands were affected by a haze brought on by strong gusts of wind on 17 December 2024, which carried suspended dust from the Sahara Desert. This dense haze, known locally as calima, led to decreased air quality in several areas. The islands of Lanzarote and Fuerteventura were the hardest hit, with...

On 14 December 2024, Cyclone Chido, a Category 4 storm, hit Mayotte, a French archipelago in the Indian Ocean near Madagascar. With winds exceeding 220 km/h, Chido was the strongest storm to affect the islands in over 90 years, destroying buildings and key infrastructure, including roads and electrical grids, and impacting the ability of rescue...

On 15 December 2024, the Pyrenees mountains were hit by an intense snowstorm. In Spain, the Ebro Valley was affected by morning fog and widespread frost, especially in low-lying areas and depressions. Amid the snowfall, fog, and frost, authorities have advised drivers and residents to take precautions, as these conditions can impact visibility...

In 2024, Ecuador was hit by a series of devastating forest fires, exacerbated by the worst drought in sixty years. In mid-November, local authorities declared a national state of emergency for 60 days, mobilising resources to fight the fires and tackle the energy crisis caused by the drought. The province of Azuay, home to Ecuador's third...

Lake Engure, a shallow coastal lake in Latvia, is a key bird habitat and Ramsar site. The lake is home to 186 species of nesting birds, 48 of which are considered threatened in Europe, and hosts at least 25,000 waterbirds at the end of the breeding season. The area is rich in botanical diversity, with over 800 plant species and features varied...

Jebel Uweinat is a prominent mountain massif located at the border of Egypt, Libya, and Sudan, within the Sahara Desert. Known for its dramatic, rugged peaks and striking geological features, Mount Uwaynat rises to about 2,000 metres, making it one of the highest points in the region. The area is renowned for its prehistoric rock art, depicting...

On 9 December 2024, a wildfire, identified by the local authorities as Franklin Fire, broke out in Malibu, California, destroying multiple structures and forcing the evacuation of 6,300 people. Two days after the start of the event, the Franklin Fire remained only 7% contained, causing school closures and the deployment of almost 2,000...

As winter approaches, the Northern Hemisphere faces growing challenges linked to climate change, with unpredictable snowfall patterns and shorter snow seasons impacting ecosystems, water resources, and industries. These shifts underscore the importance of tools like the Copernicus Land Monitoring Service (CLMS), which provides critical data on...