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ESA Earth Observation

@esaearth.esa.int

@esa.int #EarthObservation: Taking the pulse of our planet from space. Please see our Privacy Notice: http://esa.int/connectwithus We share pictures and news on our planet as seen from space.

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ESA Earth Observation @esaearth.esa.int · 5h ago

Europe's forests are losing more biomass than previously thought. A study published in @natgeosci.nature.com and supported by ESA's Climate Change Initiative found that biomass losses per hectare have increased by 46% since 2018, with drought and insect outbreaks driving increasingly severe losses.

Europe’s forests losing more biomass since 2018

Europe’s forests are losing more biomass than previously thought, with disturbances such as drought and pests causing increasingly large losses from some of the oldest forests in Europe. This situatio...

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ESA Earth Observation @esaearth.esa.int · yesterday

Wildfires west of Athens, Greece, seen from space 🔥 Captured on 2 August 2026, these images show the event at different scales: on the left, Copernicus Sentinel-2 shows the burned area and smoke plume, while on the right, Sentinel-3 shows the wider extent of the smoke across parts of Greece.

Satellite image of wildfires west of Athens, Greece. Dark fire-affected areas and a large smoke plume are visible near Porto Germeno, with smoke drifting south over the Saronic Gulf.

Sentinel-3 image showing a smoke plume from wildfires west of Athens extending across southern Greece.

ESA Space Transport @transport.esa.int · yesterday

Launch window set! 🎯 Ariane 6 flight VA270 is scheduled to liftoff on 27 August 2026 at 22:10-00:40 CEST, 17:10-19:40 local time, from Europe's Spaceport in French Guiana. This launch will carry MTG-I2 to space, the next Meteosat Third Generation Imager satellite. @esaearth.esa.int @eumetsat.int

MTG-I2 inside a cleanroom at Europe's Spaceport in French Guiana.

ESA Earth Observation @esaearth.esa.int · 2d ago

Scientists don't just monitor ocean temperature as El Niño develops. Data from @esa.int's SMOS mission reveal how freshwater and salt patterns shift across the Pacific, offering a potential new pathway for early detection. Read more🔗 www.esa.int/Applications...

The image presents a snapshot of sea-surface salinity across the Pacific Ocean in June 2026, processed from observations acquired from several sources.
Credits: contains modified Copernicus CMEMS data (2026), processed by ESA

ESA Earth Observation @esaearth.esa.int · 5d ago

HydroGNSS data are now available to users worldwide. Following commissioning, @esa.int's first Scout mission is now in full scientific operations, providing new observations of soil moisture, wetlands, flooding and vegetation to support water and climate research. www.esa.int/Applications...

HydroGNSS data open for new insights into Earth’s water

The European Space Agency's two-satellite HydroGNSS Scout mission has completed commissioning and is now in full scientific operations.Following extensive testing and validation of the satellites, ins...

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ESA Earth Observation @esaearth.esa.int · 5d ago

Who's counting Mississippis? 👀 This composite image was created by combining 3 radar acquisitions from the Copernicus Sentinel-1 satellite between February and June 2026.

Composite radar image of New Orleans and the Mississippi River delta, showing the river winding through wetlands, lakes and branching waterways along the coast.

ESA Earth Observation @esaearth.esa.int · 6d ago

It’s time for another round of 'Where on Earth?' Where do you think this location is? Tell us in the comments⤵️

Satellite image of a coastal city with a winding river, large water bodies and port areas. Text at the top reads “#WhereOnEarth?”.

ESA Earth Observation @esaearth.esa.int · 6d ago

Not one, but two satellites will soon be on their way to orbit 🚀 On 15 September at 03:21 CEST/02:21 BST (14 September at 22:21 local time), @esa.int’s FLEX mission and Copernicus Sentinel-3C are set to launch together from Europe’s Spaceport aboard a Vega-C rocket. 📷ESA/ATG medialab

Visual of the FLEX and Sentinel-3 satellites flying in formation above Earth, with coloured observation swaths projected onto the surface below.

ESA Earth Observation @esaearth.esa.int · last wk.

Venezuela's June earthquakes moved the ground more than first estimated. Copernicus Sentinel-1 data indicate displacement of up to 65 cm in parts of the affected region, compared with a preliminary estimate of around 30 cm. www.esa.int/ESA_Multimed...

This image shows the ground displacements caused by the twin earthquakes on 24 June 2026. The data was captured by radar instruments on the Copernicus Sentinel-1 satellites, which passed over the northern coast of Venezuela on 24 June, just before the earthquakes occurred, and afterwards on 25 June.

Credits: Copernicus Emergency Mapping Service data, processed by ESA

ESA Earth Observation @esaearth.esa.int · last wk.

Wildfires in France and Spain seen from space🔥 These Copernicus Sentinel-2 images, captured on 26 July, show major fires near Bordeaux in France and near ESA's Cebreros ground station in Spain. Burned areas appear dark, while infrared data help identify locations where fires were still active.

Copernicus Sentinel-2 image of wildfires west of Bordeaux, France, on 26 July 2026. Burned areas and smoke plumes are visible, with active fire hotspots highlighted in bright colours.

False-colour Copernicus Sentinel-2 image of wildfires west of Bordeaux, France, on 26 July 2026. Burned areas appear dark, with smoke plumes visible across the landscape.

Copernicus Sentinel-2 image of wildfires near Ávila, Spain, on 26 July 2026. Active fire fronts glow brightly south of ESA's Cebreros ground station, with smoke and burned land visible around them.

ESA Earth Observation @esaearth.esa.int · last wk.

Wanna know what'SUP?🤙 Registration is open until 25 October for the first Sentinel Users Preparation(SUP) Coordination Workshop 2026. The workshop focuses on future Copernicus Sentinel Expansion and Next Generation missions. 📅25–27 November 2026 📍ESA-ESRIN, Frascati, Italy www.supworkshop2026.org

Sentinel Users Preparation event graphic featuring environmental imagery

ESA Earth Observation @esaearth.esa.int · 2w ago

Fires, logging and forest degradation are often overlooked in forest carbon reporting. A new study brings together decades of evidence & satellite observations to help improve how these emissions are tracked: www.esa.int/Applications... 📷ESA(data sources:Copernicus Sentinel-2; Heinrich et al,2026)

Satellite image of Xingu Indigenous Park in Brazil, showing dense green rainforest bordered by geometric agricultural fields and a winding turquoise river lagoon.

Map of above-ground biomass change in Brazil’s Xingu Indigenous Park, showing areas of forest loss and gain between 2005 and 2024 near agricultural land.

ESA Earth Observation @esaearth.esa.int · 2w ago

Fields of gold✨ This false-colour Copernicus Sentinel-2 image shows agricultural patchwork over the Goldfields–Esperance region in Australia. Captured in June 2026, it shows varied vegetation ranging from brown to bright red, mainly in the lower-left part. www.esa.int/ESA_Multimed...

False-colour satellite image of a coastal area, showing red agricultural fields, darker inland vegetation, and the ocean.

ESA Earth Observation @esaearth.esa.int · 2w ago

Looking through smoke from Canadian wildfires🔥 EarthCARE data reveal smoke plumes from fires near Fort Simpson, revealing their extent across the Northwest Territories. Read more🔗 earth.esa.int/eogateway/ga...

EarthCARE MSI imagery and ATLID data visualised over a Sentinel-3 image of Fort Simpson on 16 July
Credits: ESA EarthCARE and Copernicus Sentinel-3/OLCI (2026), processed by ESA

ESA Earth Observation @esaearth.esa.int · 2w ago

Where on Earth is this location? Any ideas? Share them in the comments✍️

Satellite image of a coastal region with a patchwork of bright pink agricultural fields bordered by darker vegetation and a dark blue sea. Large text at the top reads “#WhereOnEarth?”.

ESA Earth Observation @esaearth.esa.int · 2w ago

There's a new InCubed call available! @esa.int 🤝 @ukspaceagency.bsky.social just opened a new round of applications: UK-based organisations are invited to submit proposals. ⏳Projects up to 18 months 💶 Funding: €300,000 - €4 million 🗓️ Deadline: 21 August 2026 philab.esa.int/esa-and-uksa...

Graphic for ESA and UK Space Agency's InCubed programme, featuring a stylised UK flag over a blue Earth observation-themed background.
Credits: ESA

ESA Earth Observation @esaearth.esa.int · 2w ago

Look who is out of its shipping container: our FLEX spacecraft! FLEX will deliver the first global maps of vegetation fluorescence at a resolution of 300 m × 300 m to assess photosynthetic activity. www.esa.int/ESA_Multimed... 📷ESA-CNES-AVIO/Optique vidéo du CSG–S. Martin

FLEX satellite on a transport trolley inside a cleanroom, with scientists preparing it for processing.

FLEX satellite mounted on a transport trolley after being removed from its shipping container in a cleanroom.

Cleanroom personnel in blue protective suits remove the FLEX satellite from its transport container inside a spacecraft processing facility.

ESA Earth Observation @esaearth.esa.int · 2w ago

The second EO4Soil Symposium is approaching! 🌱 Submit your abstract related to Earth Observation for Soil Protection and Restoration until 13 August 2026. 🗓️ 4–6 November 2026 📍 ESA-ESRIN, Frascati, Italy More information: www.eo4soilsymposium2026.org

Graphic for ESA’s EO4Soil Symposium showing plants, cracked soil, hands holding soil, and a field divided between bare soil and green vegetation. Event takes place 4–6 November 2026 at ESA-ESRIN, Frascati, Italy.

ESA Earth Observation @esaearth.esa.int · 2w ago

Space journalists: Interested in covering the launch of FLEX and Copernicus Sentinel-3C from Europe’s Spaceport? Register your interest in attending the media programme👇

European Space Agency@esa.int · 2w ago

#MediaInvitation: Journalists are invited to express their interest in attending the launch of our #FLEX mission and Copernicus Sentinel-3C on Vega-C flight #VV30 from Europe’s Spaceport in French Guiana, this September.

ESA Earth Observation @esaearth.esa.int · 2w ago

One for the calendar: 27 August 👀 That’s when MTG-I2 is scheduled to lift off aboard Ariane 6 from Europe’s Spaceport in French Guiana. Stay tuned for updates. 📷ESA-CNES-ARIANESPACE-ArianeGroup\Optique Video de CSG – S. Martin

ESA Earth Observation @esaearth.esa.int · 3w ago

Unboxing, but make it space! The Copernicus Sentinel-3C satellite has arrived at the launch site, where it has been taken out of its shipping container and placed on its dolly. This dolly holds the satellite in various positions, allowing engineers to access different parts of the craft.

Close-up of the Sentinel-3C satellite on its transport dolly inside a cleanroom. Three technicians in protective clothing stand beside the spacecraft as one points towards part of the satellite during an inspection.

Sentinel-3C satellite mounted on a transport dolly inside a clean processing facility at the launch site. Three technicians in cleanroom clothing stand around the spacecraft while an overhead lifting device is positioned above it.

ESA Earth Observation @esaearth.esa.int · 3w ago

🌊 Freshwater meets saltwater in Guinea-Bissau. Home to the largest number of saltwater rivers in West Africa, the country is shaped by an intricate network of rivers and estuaries, as seen in this Copernicus Sentinel-2 image.

This Copernicus Sentinel-2 image features part of the Republic of Guinea-Bissau in western Africa.

With an area of 36 125 sq km, Guinea-Bissau is one of the smallest nations in continental Africa. This tropical country is made up of highlands in its northeastern region and, pictured here, lowlands near the Atlantic coast.

Captured in May 2026, the image shows how this coastal region is dominated by low plains scattered with mangrove swamps and cut through by rivers and estuaries, which branch out in the terrain like roots from a plant.

ESA Earth Observation @esaearth.esa.int · 3w ago

If it fits, I sits! The MTG-I2 satellite passed the fit checks with the Ariane-6 Launch Vehicle Adapter: a physical and functional verification of the interfaces between the satellite and the launch adapter. This 3800 kg satellite is set to launch on an Ariane 6 rocket this summer🚀

Close-up of the mechanical interface between the MTG-I2 satellite and the launch vehicle adapter during fit-check operations. Technicians in cleanroom suits inspect and verify the alignment of the satellite with the adapter beneath it.

ESA Earth Observation @esaearth.esa.int · 3w ago

Let's play 'Where on Earth?' Tell us in the comments where you think this location is👇

Satellite image of a winding muddy river crossing a dark green wetland landscape, with branching channels, a few small clouds, and the text “#WhereOnEarth?” at the top.

ESA Earth Observation @esaearth.esa.int · 3w ago

Our FLEX satellite and the Copernicus Sentinel-3C spacecraft have finally arrived to Europe's spaceport! With both satellites now at the launch site, the focus turns to completing the intensive launch campaign that will culminate in their shared trip aboard Vega-C. @transport.esa.int are you ready?

A large roll-on/roll-off cargo ship is moored at a dock at dawn in French Guiana. Bright lights illuminate the vessel and its open cargo deck, while calm water reflects the ship and the purple-blue morning sky filled with clouds.

Inside the cargo deck of a ship, a large white transport container carrying ESA satellite hardware is suspended by a crane during unloading operations. Several workers in high-visibility clothing supervise the lift as daylight enters through the open stern ramp, revealing palm trees outside.

ESA Earth Observation @esaearth.esa.int · 3w ago

🔍 @esa.int has installed its first quantum computer at ESRIN in Italy. Called Bell-1, the system will be used to explore how quantum and classical computing can work together to process and analyse Earth observation data. Read more: www.esa.int/Applications...

ESA brings quantum computing to Earth observation

The European Space Agency has installed its first quantum computer, called Bell-1, at its Earth observation centre in Italy. The move marks a significant step in exploring how quantum technology could...

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ESA Earth Observation @esaearth.esa.int · 3w ago

Looking beyond wildfire mapping🔥 The FIRE-AID project is combining Earth observation data, environmental information and AI to develop tools that could help forecast wildfire spread and support emergency response. eo4society.esa.int/2026/07/10/f...

From rapid mapping to predictive wildfire intelligence - eo science for society

The 2026 wildfire season has started early, with several European regions already experiencing significant fire activity, as highlighted by recent media

eo4society.esa.int

ESA Earth Observation @esaearth.esa.int · 3w ago

MTG-S1 is now operational! The satellite is now officially delivering weather data after its commissioning has. For MTG-S1, this achievement is particularly significant because it introduces capabilities that Europe has never before had in geostationary orbit🛰️ www.esa.int/Applications...

The image shows Earth from geostationary orbit, about 36 000 km from the planet’s surface. It was captured on 15 November 2025 by the MTG-Sounder’s Infrared Sounder instrument, using the medium-wave infrared channel, which measures humidity in Earth’s atmosphere. Blue colours correspond to regions in the atmosphere with higher humidity, while red colours correspond to lower humidity in the atmosphere.

The outlines of landmasses are not visible in this image. The areas of least humidity, shown in dark red, are seen approximately over the Sahara Desert and the Middle East (top of image), while a large area of low humidity also covers part of the South Atlantic Ocean (centre of image). Numerous patches of high humidity are seen in dark blue over the eastern part of the African continent as well as in high and low latitudes.

ESA Earth Observation @esaearth.esa.int · 4w ago

Back to the future, Antarctic edition🧊 Thirty years after @esa.int's ERS tandem mission, Copernicus Sentinel-1C and Sentinel-1D recreated the same one-day revisit interval, allowing scientists to compare glacier motion and other changes in Antarctica between 1995 & 2026. www.esa.int/Applications...

Satellites in tandem reveal 30 years of Antarctic ice flow

Thirty years after the European Space Agency first demonstrated the power of flying two satellites in very close formation, the concept was recently recreated. By temporarily positioning two Copernicu...

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ESA Earth Observation @esaearth.esa.int · 4w ago

Summer comes slowly to Great Bear Lake🐻 Even in mid-June, ice still covered much of Canada's largest freshwater lake. Captured by Copernicus Sentinel-2, the image reveals fractures and ice-free areas spreading across the surface as the lake transitions towards summer. www.esa.int/ESA_Multimed...

Satellite image of Great Bear Lake in northern Canada, captured in mid-June 2026. Blue ice covers much of the lake, with dark cracks and open water marking the start of the seasonal thaw.