Massive T°  contrasts were recorded n South America in July 2023. On 16 July, the air temperature reached+39°C in Brazil and -22°C in Patagonia.  On the same day, One of the Copernicus Sentinel-2 satellites captured this cloud-free view of one of the Andean lakes where the low T° were recorded. 

3 months after the beginning of the crisis, (at least) 880 wildfires continue to affect Canada. 9.7 million hectares have burned (an area larger than Portugal). Smoke continues to engulf the skies of North America, as shown in this  Copernicus Sentinel-3 image acquired on 20 July

Exceptional high air temperatures have been recorded in southern Europe in July 2023.  18 July was the hottest day on record in Catalunya, with a searing 45.3°C and in Roma (shown in this image acquired by one of the Copernicus Sentinel-2 satellite acquired on the same day), with 42.9°C.

Multiple wildfires are currently ravaging Greece, resulting in substantial damage and necessitating the evacuation of residents.  This image, captured on the 19 July by one of the Copernicus Sentinel-2 satellites, reveals the burn scar and smoke plume produced by the ongoing Dervenochoria wildfire in western Attica. In response to the...

The Global Reach of Saharan Dust: From North Africa to Distant Continents

CUT | Cyprus University of Technology | English

A record-breaking heatwave is currently affecting Italy, Spain, and Greece, with temperatures soaring to unprecedented levels.  Additionally, the western Mediterranean basin is set to be affected by high concentrations of Saharan dust, further exacerbating the extreme conditions. The Copernicus Atmosphere Monitoring Service (CAMS) provides...

AD AIR Centre & PT Space | Cape Verde | Portuguese

Record-breaking sea surface temperatures around Florida (USA) have soared to unprecedented levels, exceeding the normal range by more than 2 degrees Celsius for the first weeks of July 2023. This rise in seawater temperatures has resulted in widespread coral reef bleaching in the Florida Keys archipelago.  On 9 July, one of the Copernicus...

On 9 July 2023, the waters of the Gulf of Naples in Italy took on an unusual green colour, catching the attention of locals and experts alike. The phenomenon was attributed to a non-toxic algal bloom, specifically caused by a type of microalgae known as prasinophytes. The bloom persisted for several days and was observed by one of the...

One of the Copernicus Sentinel-3 satellite images captured on 16 July 2023 reveals a clear view of Greece without clouds, illustrating the ongoing exceptional heatwave in southern Europe. In response to the extreme temperatures, local authorities in Athens have implemented measures to protect public safety, including restricting access to the...

In the first decade of July 2023, strong winds carried multiple plumes of dust and sand from the Namib desert, located along the southwestern coast of Africa. These plumes can be seen drifting westward in a captivating display captured by a Copernicus Sentinel-3 satellite on 11 July. Such occurrences are not uncommon in this arid region, where...

Over the past few months, record sea water temperatures have been recorded in northern Atlantic Ocean and in the Mediterranean Sea. According to Mercator Ocean, the western Mediterranean is currently experiencing a "moderate" sea heatwave. However, the heatwave appears to be intensifying, shifting from moderate to strong category, particularly...

This Copernicus Sentinel-2 image from 11 July 2023 shows the lava flows and the plume emitted by the Fagradalsfjall volcano in Iceland. The eruption began on the same day the image was acquired, following an intense seismic swarm in the region.  The eruption site is an uninhabited valley near the Litli-Hrútur mountain, approximately 30...

Introduction: Copernicus and the Urgency of Drought Management

A severe heatwave is ongoing in Europe. Temperature records broken in France, Switzerland, Germany and Spain.  On 11 July 2023, the Land Surface Temperature (LST) in some areas of Extremadura (Spain) exceeded 60°C, as highlighted in this data visualisation derived from measurements from the Copernicus Sentinel-3 Sea and Land Surface Temperature...

Presentations of the 1st Webinar on the FPCUP WG Africa Training of Trainers Programme

These images, acquired by Copernicus-2 Sentinel satellites on 28 June 2022 and 8 July 2023, show the impact of drought on the Rhine river in the area of Koblenz, Germany. This waterway plays an important role in Europe's inland transport, handling approximately 75 percent of all goods transported by this method.    Currently, the water level in...

This image, acquired by one of the Copernicus Sentinel-2 satellites on 8 July 2023, shows the newly commissioned Brăila Bridge in Romania. At nearly 2 km in length, it is the third longest suspension bridge in Europe. It will reduce travel times, vehicle operating costs, exposure of residents to air and noise pollutants, and improve the quality...

This image, based on Copernicus Climate Change Service data, shows the surface air temperature anomaly for June 2023 in Europe. At more than 0.5°C above the average for the years 1991 to 2020, June 2023 broke the previous record set in June 2019 by a significant margin. Northwest Europe endured record-breaking high temperatures in June. Large...