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The Earth Observation component of the EU Space Programme Posts here do not always reflect the most current information.
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The Copernicus team of the European Commission will be using Facebook as a supplemental channel to disseminate information about Copernicus – The European Earth Observation Programme and its partners and projects. For current official information, visit: http://www.copernicus.eu

16/11/2024

Severe air pollution is a common issue in South Asia in autumn and winter, occurring when cold air traps dust, emissions, and smoke from fires.

Authorities in the Pakistani province of Punjab have ordered schools in several areas to close until 17 November 2024, shifting to online classes to protect children from hazardous air pollution. Punjab, home to over half of Pakistan’s population, has already imposed restrictions on some primary schools, tuk-tuks, and barbecue restaurants in

Lahore, where air pollution has reached record levels. Health officials have reported a rise in respiratory issues as a consequence of the air quality.

This image acquired on 9 November 2024 by one of the Copernicus satellites shows smog over parts of Pakistan and northern India.

Air quality monitoring and forecasting is one of the main focuses of the Copernicus Atmosphere Monitoring Service (CAMS). Its free and open data enables better decision-making for improved public health outcomes. Additionally, the Copernicus Health Hub is a one-stop shop for all Copernicus environmental data and products related to health, including those related to air quality.

15/11/2024

Another milestone on our Copernicus C path to launch!

The fueling phase was successfully completed yesterday in Kourou, in Europe’s Spaceport in French Guiana! ✅

Save the date for the launch:
📅 3 December
⏰ 10:20 p.m. CEST

15/11/2024

This image acquired on 14 November 2024 shows a Saharan dust plume stretching over 700 km across the Mediterranean Sea. In this image, the plume can be seen extending from Algeria northward over the Spanish Balearic Islands.

The suspension and transportation of Saharan dust in the atmosphere can cause a haze in affected areas and sometimes impacts air quality, transportation, and respiratory health.

The Copernicus Atmosphere Monitoring Service (CAMS) monitors and forecasts air quality on a global scale, assessing the concentration and dispersion of atmospheric pollutants and aerosols.

The Copernicus Health Hub is an additional resource for finding all Copernicus data and products relevant for health, including those related to air quality.

14/11/2024

Mount Fuji, Japan's iconic landmark and highest peak at 3,776 meters, recently saw its first snowfall this year!

This marked the end of the mountain's longest snow-free period since records began 130 years ago.

Typically, Mount Fuji receives snow in early October, but unusually warm weather delayed snowfall until November.

This delay follows Japan's hottest summer on record in 2024, with temperatures from June to August measuring 1.76°C above average. September and October were also warmer than average in the country.

This image shows Mount Fuji on 12 November 2024, with only faint white traces of snow visible on its peak.

The Copernicus Sentinel satellites deliver consistent and reliable data for monitoring weather events around the world. This information is essential to making sense of climate trends and helping prepare for a more sustainable future.

13/11/2024

During the second weekend of November 2024, the Spanish Canary Islands were affected by a light haze and record-breaking temperatures for the month.

La Aldea de San Nicolás, a municipality of the island of Gran Canaria, reached 35.7°C on 9 November. This surpasses the previous record set in 2023, when the Islands were hit by the warmest temperatures for the month of November up to that point.

Meteorologists have attributed the haze and heatwave to a combination of warm air masses and Saharan dust carried by eastward-moving winds.

The heatwave continued on 10 November. In Gran Canaria, visible in this Copernicus Sentinel-2 image from the same day, the air temperature exceeded 34°C.

The Copernicus Services deliver essential information for monitoring environmental trends and their impacts worldwide. For instance, the Copernicus Atmosphere Monitoring Service (CAMS) tracks and forecasts air quality, while the Copernicus Climate Change Service (C3S) provides valuable insights into climate trends across Europe and globally. This data supports informed decision-making to promote better health outcomes.

12/11/2024

In the Greek village of Kissos, chestnuts trees have been affected by months of extreme heat and drought following the country’s warmest winter and summer on record.

Much of Greece's chestnuts have been similarly impacted, with this year’s harvest expected to be about half the average of the past five years. The extreme weather conditions have also affected other crops in Greece, such as cherries, apples, and walnuts.

In this image acquired by one of our satellites on 26 September 2024, Kissos is visible east of Mount Pelion.

Open data from the Copernicus Sentinel satellites delivers information on crop health, soil moisture, and water management, supporting agriculture around the world.

11/11/2024

Las Vegas, USA, has emerged as a leader in sustainability thanks to policies promoting renewable energy, water conservation, recycling, and green buildings. Water consumption in the city has decreased significantly despite a large growth in population, and by 2030, half of electricity in the state of Nevada is expected to come from renewable resources.

Las Vegas’s commercial sector, which is responsible for one-third of the city’s total energy consumption, is increasingly integrating solar power and natural daylight to improve its energy efficiency.

This image, acquired by one of the Copernicus Sentinel-2 satellites on 21 October 2024, shows Las Vegas from above.

The Copernicus services provide essential information for the energy sector, such as the Copernicus Atmosphere Monitoring Service’s (CAMS) data on solar radiation, which supports the planning and implementation of solar farms, rooftop solar panels, and more.

10/11/2024

The province of Antwerp, in northern Belgium, is leading the way in the energy transition. Bolstered by collaborations between climate conscious citizens and local authorities, the province is home to five energy cooperatives, most of which started as citizen initiatives.

The city of Mechelen, visible in this false colour image acquired by one of the Copernicus Sentinel-2 satellites on 21 September 2024, stands out as a leader in climate and energy strategy: in the last decade, the city reduced its carbon emissions by 15% per capita.

It has further set out to draft a fossil-free heating strategy for the future.

Open data from the Copernicus Sentinel satellites and services is key to providing communities with important information on the implementation status of policies related to sustainable energy.

09/11/2024

In early November 2024, Hurricane Rafael, visible in this Copernicus Sentinel-3 image acquired on 7 November 2024, made landfall in Cuba as a Category 3 storm, destroying hundreds of homes and other infrastructure and causing island-wide power outages.

Over 283,000 people have been evacuated, including nearly 100,000 people in Havana.

Rafael, which is the strongest hurricane in the northwestern Caribbean in November since 2009, is the second powerful hurricane to hit Cuba in recent weeks, following Hurricane Oscar in October 2024.

Amid increasingly frequent and intense tropical storms and hurricanes driven by climate change, the Copernicus Sentinel satellites deliver open data, which supports the monitoring and understanding of these extreme weather events.

08/11/2024

2024 is now on track to become the warmest year ever 🌡️📈, shows the latest Copernicus ECMWF data.

For 15 of the last 16 months, average temperatures have stayed over 1.5°C above pre-industrial levels, including October 2024, the second-warmest October ever recorded, with global temperatures 1.65°C above pre-industrial levels.

Climate action is more urgent than ever.

So besides being the warmest year ever, let's make 2024 a year of action at . Let's make it count and work together to build a more sustainable future for everyone.

https://climate.copernicus.eu/climate-bulletins

08/11/2024

The Copernicus Climate Change Service (C3S) has published its latest monthly Climate Bulletin, focused on key climate trends in October 2024.
The bulletin reports that October 2024 was the second-warmest October on record globally, surpassed only by October 2023.

The month was 0.80°C warmer than the 1991-2020 October average, with an absolute surface air temperature of 15.25°C, and marked the fifteenth month within a 16-month period during which global average surface air temperatures exceeded 1.5°C above pre-industrial levels.

This data visualisation based on C3S data shows Europe, where October 2024 ranked as the fifth-warmest October on record, with average temperatures 1.23°C above the 1991-2020 monthly average.

Data from C3S is essential for monitoring trends in the global climate, ultimately supporting decisionmakers in creating and implementing climate strategies for the future.

07/11/2024

Traditional Finnish ice preservation methods have inspired modern snow storage solutions to support Europe’s ski resorts amid warmer temperatures and shorter winter seasons. 🏔🇫🇮

The Levi ski resort in Kittilä, Finland, visible in this image acquired on 15 September 2024, is an example of the several European resorts which have used recycled snow insulated with durable mats to extend their ski seasons without relying on energy-intensive artificial snow.

As climate change impacts snowfall patterns, snow storage methods help stabilise operations and ensure more reliable winter sports seasons.⛷️

The Copernicus Sentinel satellites provide free and open data useful for monitoring snow cover, an important component of many climatic, environmental, and economic processes around the globe.

06/11/2024

Since 2023, the Amazon River has been affected by a severe drought. The consequences of the crisis are far-reaching, affecting local economies and resources.

In Colombia, the depleted river has isolated some rural Indigenous communities that depend on rain and river water to survive, especially for food, drinking water, and navigation. In particular, the lower river levels have impacted nearby communities’ ability to fish and travel to Leticia to sell crops.

This Sentinel-2 image acquired on 25 October 2024 shows the exposed riverbeds of the Amazon River near the cities of Leticia, Colombia, Tabatinga, Brazil, and Santa Rosa de Yavari, Peru.

The ongoing drought and its widespread impacts in affected countries can be monitored with open data from the Copernicus Sentinel satellites, which provide key information for mapping bodies of water and supporting response operations.

05/11/2024

Extensive destruction and the tragic loss of over 200 lives have resulted from severe flash floods, which struck the Community of Valencia, Spain, on 29 October 2024. As of 4 November, recovery operations continue in previously inaccessible areas in the region.

The Copernicus Emergency Management Service (CEMS) has been activated (EMSR773) to deliver assessments of the extent of the flooding and its impacts in affected areas.

This data visualisation, based on CEMS data, depicts the situation in the ‘Horta Sud’ Area of Interest (a small part of a larger monitoring effort being conducted by CEMS) on 31 October at 10:22 UTC.

The map reveals that more than 4,100 hectares of surface and 3,906 buildings have been affected by flooding, while more than 60,000 people, 15.2 km of railways, and 531.6 km of roads were potentially impacted.

The information provided by CEMS is key to more efficient emergency response and future mitigation strategies for extreme weather events.

04/11/2024

On Germany’s northern coast, the rising levels of the North Sea pose a threat to nearby communities and ecosystems.

Encroaching sea water impacts not only sites along the shore, but also those further away by affecting farmland and habitats located more inland.

In the village of Harlesiel, as in many places along the shore, sea dikes are being built to protect the area from coastal erosion.

The dimensions of the dikes are calculated based on predicted sea levels one century in the future, and work to protect the homes of over one million people in the German state of Lower Saxony.

The villages of Harlesiel and Schillig, along the northern coast of Germany, are visible in this image acquired by one of the Sentinel-2 satellites on 20 July 2024.

The Copernicus Coastal Hub is an essential resource for Earth Observation data on European coastal zones. Its value-added information is useful for supporting sustainable management of these important areas.

03/11/2024

On 29 October 2024, the Community of Valencia in Spain was hit by severe flooding, causing widespread devastation and the tragic loss of more than 200 lives.

In response to the crisis, the Copernicus Emergency Management Service (CEMS) has been activated (EMSR773) to provide a comprehensive assessment of the extent of the flooding in the affected areas.

This data visualisation depicts the situation in the province of Valencia on 31 October 2024 at 18:02 UTC. It highlights areas directly affected by the floods, marked in blue, and areas with residual flood traces, indicated by light green lines.

The map reveals that more than 53,000 hectares were affected by the floods, with more than 190,000 people and 3,200 km of roads potentially affected.

This information is essential for emergency response and future mitigation planning, demonstrating the essential role of Copernicus data in managing crises caused by extreme weather events.

02/11/2024

This data visualisation compares two Copernicus Sentinel-2 satellite acquisitions over the area south of Valencia, Spain, captured on 26 and 31 October 2024, before and after the devastating floods which hit the area during the evening of 29 October.

On 26 October, the area appears well delineated, with clear separations between densely populated areas, agricultural plots, and roads. The built-up areas are characterised by red roofs and roads, while the agricultural areas display different shades of green, indicating the presence of various types of crops.

After the flooding, the latest image, acquired on 31 October, shows evidence of significant damage. Many of the previously green areas are now covered with mud and debris, resulting in a predominance of brown and ochre colours.

This change of colour provides evidence of the extensive flooding that has affected fields and infrastructure. There is also an increased presence of turbid waters in watercourses and extensive flooded areas.

The Copernicus Emergency Management Service is working to provide mapping products to support the emergency response to the floods in the Comunitat Valenciana.

01/11/2024

Parts of southern and eastern Spain are still reeling from the effects of flash flooding after record rainfall hit the region on 29 and 30 October 2024.

Over 150 deaths have been reported, making this the country’s deadliest natural disaster in decades. On 31 October, emergency operations continued to rescue stranded residents and locate missing persons.

The flooding has caused widespread destruction to infrastructure, devastating homes and buildings, and disrupting rail service.

Valencia is one of the worst affected areas after receiving over one year’s worth of rainfall in eight hours. This Copernicus Sentinel-1 image, acquired on 31 October 2024, shows in blue tones the flooded areas in the area south of Valencia.

The Copernicus Emergency Management Service (CEMS) has been activated to provide flood extent and damage assessments of the situation in Valencia.

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Video's

This video showcases the ongoing cold temperatures and snowfall during the last weeks in Santa Cruz Province and part of Patagonia in Argentina. 🇦🇷 These conditions have covered in snow ❄️ a vast territory, posing one of the hardest conditions in the last years. The video is made of two Sentinel-2 passes acquired on the 30th of June and the 2nd of July 2024. It covers about 500 km north-south, Santa Cruz Province, and part of Patagonia in Argentina. #CopernicusEU #Sentinel2 📷 Courtesy of @i_ameztoy

#DYK that the concentration of phytoplankton in the waters of the northern hemisphere is at its highest at this time of year? The increased sunlight☀️ in spring and summer stimulates its growth, which is essential for marine food webs and ecosystem health🌱🐟. 📽️⬆️Annual phytoplankton oscillation retrieved with the #MyOcean Viewer of our #CopernicusMarine Service

#DYK that our @CMEMS_EU data helps monitor and forecast the velocity and direction of sea water 🌊 across the globe? ⬇️ Currents 🌀 forming in the Gibraltar Strait and Alboran Sea visualised in the #CopernicusMarine #MyOceanViewer

Our #CopernicusMarine Service is gearing up towards its 8th General Assembly It will provide an opportunity to learn more about the latest developments in marine observation and forecasting 🌊 🗓️4-5 June, 📽️Online More info is available 🔗 https://events.marine.copernicus.eu/copernicus-marine-general-assembly-2024

🌊🔬 #DYK that the Amazon River plays a key role in influencing global ocean salinity? Our #CopernicusMarine Service provides valuable data on this and many other parameters critical for protecting #OurOcean ⬇️📽️ Annual Sea Water Salinity oscillation retrieved with the #MyOcean Viewer

According to the latest #CopernicusEMS #GDO report, southern Africa is being affected by a severe and prolonged #drought ⬇️Soil moisture is heavily impacted, as shown in this #CEMS Global Drought Observatory product More details at 👇 https://e.copernicus.eu/GDO_Report_SouthernAfrica

Recently, Mexico 🇲🇽 and Venezuela 🇻🇪 have been plagued by severe #wildfires ⬇️ Aerosol transport in Central America – Animation based on the #OpenData of our #CopernicusAtmosphere Monitoring Service

#Copernicus Thematic Hub Our #HealthHub is designed to be a key resource for policymakers, giving them access to essential data that supports 🌍Decisions on climate adaptation 🏥Public health strategies Read more in our #CopernicusObserver 👇https://e.copernicus.eu/OBS_HealthHub

Last year, we launched the #Copernicus Thematic Hubs 🙌 On our #EnergyHub, you can find all the Copernicus #OpenData and products relevant for the renewable energy sector ⚡️ Read more in our #CopernicusObserver 👇 https://www.copernicus.eu/en/news/news/observer-depth-look-copernicus-energy-thematic-hub

#Copernicus EU🛰️ helps to better understand #OurOceans Monitoring water salinity provides insights into marine ecosystems, global water circulation, and the impacts of #ClimateChange 👇 This #dataviz based on #CopernicusMarine data shows the evolution of water salinity along the coasts of South America 🌊

Our #Copernicus #CoastalHub is a valuable tool for exploring coastal zones across Europe 🦩 It provides access to #EO-based #OpenData from a vast portfolio of Copernicus products and services Learn more in our #CopernicusObserver 👇https://e.copernicus.eu/OBS_CoastalHub

The aquatic biomass is expanses of algae and marine plants that not only provide habitats for marine animals and flora but also play a vital role in the carbon cycle 🌿 ⬇️This #dataviz based on #CopernicusMarine data shows the evolution of 🫧 biomass in the Mediterranean Sea