This Copernicus Sentinel-2 image, caught on February 27, 2023, reveals the Loire River– the longest river in France. The effects of the current drought can be seen in the image with big locations of exposed riverbed clearly noticeable. Credit: Contains modified Copernicus Sentinel data (2023 ), processed by ESA, CC BY-SA 3.0 IGO
Europe has simply endured its second hottest winter season on record. Much of southern and western Europe has actually been impacted by significant abnormalities of soil moisture owing to this extremely dry and warm winter. Data from ESAs Soil Moisture and Ocean Salinity objective have been used to monitor the low levels of soil wetness across Europe.
According to the Copernicus Climate Change Service, in between December 2022 and February 2023, the typical temperature level was 1.4 ° C( 2.5 ° F) above the 1991-2020 average. Particularly in February 2023, heats combined with a lack of rain saw western and southern Europe experiencing drier-than-average conditions– with several areas seeing low levels of soil wetness.
The maps listed below make use of data from ESAs Soil Moisture and Ocean Salinity (SMOS) objective, which offers global observations of soil moisture. The comparison shown here supplies a clear image of the intensity of the drought impacting central-western Europe in 2023.
Using data from ESAs Soil Moisture and Ocean Salinity (SMOS), the maps show the drought index anomaly for Europe from January-March 2022 and January-March 2023, compared to the 2010-2023 recommendation duration. Dark orange/gold in the image represents drier locations compared to the 13-year average, yellow program average conditions while green shows wetter than typical areas. Credit: CESBIO/CATDS/ESA
The effects of the dry spell are especially noticeable in France, Spain, the United Kingdom, and northern Italy and raise concerns about water agriculture, supply, and energy production.
The SMOS satellite carries an unique interferometric radiometer that catches brightness temperature level images. These images are utilized to derive international maps of soil wetness every three days, attaining a precision of 4% at a spatial resolution of about 50 km– similar to identifying one teaspoon of water combined into a handful of soil.
Most of western Europe experienced below-average soil wetness, reaching more than 4% below par in numerous areas. This was more than 8% below par in parts of Spain and Türkiye.
Europe has simply endured its 2nd hottest winter season on record. This series of images, caught by Copernicus Sentinel-2, reveal the impacts of the drought on the Loire River– the longest river in France. In the most current image recorded on 27 February 2023, effects of the drought including big locations of exposed riverbed are plainly noticeable. Credit: Contains modified Copernicus Sentinel data (2021-23), processed by ESA, CC BY-SA 3.0 IGO
While plants and crops at the start of the growing season havent been significantly affected right now, the present situation could end up being important in the coming months if temperature levels and lack of precipitation will continue in spring 2023.
The SMOS mission makes global observations of soil wetness over Earths landmasses and salinity over the oceans. Variations in soil wetness and ocean salinity are a consequence of the continuous exchange of water between the oceans, the environment and the land– Earths water cycle. Credit: ESA/AOES Medialab
SMOS is one of ESAs Earth Explorer missions, which form the science and research element of the Living Planet Programme. In its 13+ years in orbit, SMOS has not only exceeded its planned life-span and exceeded its original scientific goals, the mission has actually been extended up until 2025.
Credit: Contains customized Copernicus Sentinel information (2023 ), processed by ESA, CC BY-SA 3.0 IGO
Much of western and southern Europe has actually been impacted by considerable anomalies of soil wetness owing to this remarkably dry and warm winter season. Information from ESAs Soil Moisture and Ocean Salinity objective have actually been utilized to keep an eye on the low levels of soil moisture across Europe.
Utilizing data from ESAs Soil Moisture and Ocean Salinity (SMOS), the maps reveal the dry spell index anomaly for Europe from January-March 2022 and January-March 2023, compared to the 2010-2023 recommendation duration. In the most current image caught on 27 February 2023, results of the dry spell consisting of large areas of exposed riverbed are clearly noticeable.