Data from Copernicus sneaks into many aspects of our lives. It's in daily forecasts of air quality and pollen levels across Europe, it's in our news channels, and it's even in your social media feeds, if you engage with Earth Observation content, of course!

The Great Lakes, which consist of five lakes: Superior, Ontario, Erie, Huron, and Michigan, are a vital freshwater resource, collectively holding about one-fifth of the world's surface freshwater and serving as crucial ecosystems and transportation routes. These interconnected bodies of water, bordered by the United States and Canada, hit...

Over the past few years, Morocco has been affected by prolonged drought and low rainfall episodes. To address the threat of water scarcity, local authorities are implementing strict measures, including restrictions on water use for agriculture and daily activities. These Copernicus Sentinel-2 images, acquired on 26 January 2023 (top) and 2024...

The current high-pressure system over southern Europe has caused air quality to deteriorate in Italy. In the Po Valley, pollution levels are worrying and have exceeded normative thresholds. As shown in this visualisation based on data  from the Copernicus Atmosphere Monitoring Service, PM10 exceeded 100 μg/m3 in many areas of the Po Valley on...

Nestled along the Senegalese coastline, the Saloum Delta is a captivating haven of biodiversity, with its rich tapestry of wildlife. Teeming with vibrant bird species, frolicking dolphins and elusive marine life, this delta serves as a sanctuary for a myriad of flora and fauna. Its extensive mangrove forests not only provide a vital habitat for...

The Wintering Wildlife Conservation Initiative, recently launched by Colorado Parks and Wildlife (CPW) in partnership with the Winter Wildlands Alliance and the Colorado Mountain Club, aims to raise public awareness of the threats to wildlife during Colorado's winter months. The initiative provides educational resources and tools to help winter...

Popocatépetl is a stratovolcano in central Mexico, formed by the subduction of the Cocos Plate beneath the North American Plate. Its eruptions are predominantly explosive, driven by the build-up of gas pressure in the magma chamber. It is closely monitored due to its proximity to densely populated areas such as Mexico City and La Puebla. The...

The Zahara-El Gastor reservoir in southern Spain is a vital source of water for agriculture and recreation. The critical drought affecting the province of Cádiz has left the reservoir at nearly 6% of its capacity, a worrying level that threatens access to water for surrounding communities. The lack of water is clearly visible in this Copernicus...

Imagine a summer jog along the sandy beaches of the Algarve in Portugal, a boat trip around Norwegian fjords or a leisurely walk to see the pink flamingos of the Camargue in France. Diverse and full of life, Europe's coastal zones are much admired for their biodiversity and the benefits they provide to people's livelihoods. Copernicus helps us...

Lake Chapala, the largest freshwater lake in Mexico, is located in the state of Jalisco. It is the primary source of water supply for the Guadalajara metropolitan area and supports a rich biodiversity of aquatic life, including numerous fish species and migratory birds. Since 2009, the reservoir has been declared a wetland of international...

Isle Royale, covering 54,200 hectares, is located in the remote western part of Lake Superior, between Minnesota, USA and Thunder Bay, Canada. The island serves as a haven for wildlife biologists, providing a unique setting to study wolves and moose in their natural habitat, free from human interference.  Since 1958, researchers have conducted...

Coral bleaching is a marine phenomenon which occurs when corals expel the algae living in their tissues, causing them to turn white or pale. This expulsion is often triggered by environmental stressors such as rising water temperatures, pollution, or changes in ocean chemistry. Without the colourful algae, corals lose their primary source of...

Situated at an elevation of 5,100 metres above sea level, La Rinconada stands as the permanent settlement located at the highest elevation in the world. Nested in the Puno region of Peru, this historic mining town boasts abundant gold reserves. Following the increase in the price of gold between 2001 and 2009, the population of La Rinconada saw...

This visualisation, based on data from the Copernicus Climate Change Service (C3S), shows the global surface air temperature anomaly for January 2024. According to C3S data, January 2024 was the warmest January on record globally, with an average surface air temperature of 13.14°C. The month was 1.66°C warmer than the estimate of the January...

On 8 February, the Fagradalsfjall volcano erupted for the third time since December 2023. The lava flow has disrupted the hot water supply to more than 20,000 households, and the local Civil Protection Agency has raised its alert level to emergency status for the whole Reykjanes Peninsula region. This image of the eruption was acquired by one...

The 12-weeks online 'Training of Trainers' program was successfully completed!

Chile has been ravaged by forest fires, particularly in the Valparaíso region, where nearly 8,700 hectares have been devastated by the 5-day blaze. More than 6,000 people have been displaced in the region and at least 131 casualties have been reported. The authorities have declared the wildfires contained, but firefighters are still working to...

When we think of a healthy lifestyle, we might tend to think of being free of disease, having a good workout routine, eating a balanced diet and so on. And we wouldn't be wrong; part of a healthy lifestyle is just that. But there's more to what affects our health, and therefore our lives. Much of what surrounds us — and ultimately the state of...

In Sardinia, Italy, the lack of rainfall and resulting drought has reduced water reserves to less than 50% of their total capacity and local authorities have imposed restrictions on the use of water resources. These images of Lake Alto del Flumendosa, which supplies fresh water to a large part of eastern Sardinia were acquired by one of the...

Like many other countries in Europe, France has experienced an unusually warm January, with temperatures remaining above 0ºC in the French Pyrenees region and, as a consequence, a lack of snow in the area. Some ski resorts have temporarily closed due to the almost complete absence of snow, while others have shut down for this year's ski season....