Despite a colder winter with increased snowfall, climate change continues to significantly reduce Europe’s snow cover. Tectonic shifts at Iceland’s Mid-Atlantic Ridge have transformed the landscape through volcanic eruptions, highlighting how Europe’s ground is constantly changing. These are the topics addressed in the first two data-driven ‘snapshot’ stories released by the European Environment Agency, showcasing data and imagery available through the Copernicus Land Monitoring Service (CLMS).
The stories in the snapshots illustrate how satellite data from the Copernicus observation and monitoring program’s near real-time datasets can depict the latest climate and environmental shifts in Europe. Future stories will cover data on Europe’s forest cover.
Across Europe, changing snow cover is a clear indicator of climate change. Southern and mid-altitude regions like the Alps and Pyrenees experience shorter snow seasons and declining snowpacks, while areas like Scandinavia have seen unexpected snow increases. These regional differences emphasize Europe’s complex snow dynamics, with snow behaving unpredictably and showing high annual variation.
Ground motion in Europe is a growing concern, with regions experiencing significant landscape changes. Volcanic activity has resumed in Iceland’s Reykjanes Peninsula, affecting local infrastructure. Elsewhere in Europe, coastlines face rising seas and sinking land. While some changes are natural, human activities like groundwater extraction, mining, and urban development exacerbate land subsidence, as depicted in the ground motion snapshot.
Snapshot stories demonstrate how the EEA’s 250 online land datasets can be utilized by practitioners, academics, or journalists for free. Copernicus data helps uncover stories, provide evidence, and visualize environmental changes, showing how forests, cities, farmland, and natural areas evolve over time, revealing trends linked to climate change, deforestation, urbanization, or land degradation.
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