April 30, 2024

Bird’s Eye Burn Scars: Scorched Devastation on the Greek Island of Rhodes

Wildfires burning on the Greek island of Rhodes forced the evacuation of thousands of individuals as flames spread out from the islands mountainous area to the coast. This structure reveals the islands troubled geological past, formed by the convergence of the African and Eurasian tectonic plates. Proof of this can be found in the islands fold and thrust belts, which bear witness to the effective forces that as soon as molded its topography.
Ataviros, the highest peak on the island of Rhodes, stands as a testimony to the islands rugged beauty. Rich in historical and geological significance, Ataviros is not only a hikers delight however also a window into the ancient tales and natural wonders of Rhodes.

Satellite picture of the Greek island of Rhodes reveals the burn scars left by this summer seasons wildfires. Credit: Contains modified Copernicus Sentinel information (2023 ), processed by ESA, CC BY-SA 3.0 IGO
This summertime, Europe was badly impacted by a heatwave, leading to numerous wildfires, with the Greek island of Rhodes being significantly affected. Satellite images reveal the comprehensive damage, with around 18,000 hectares of land devastated in between July 18 and 28.
This summertime, Europe experienced an unrelenting heatwave, sustaining wildfires in a number of countries. This Copernicus Sentinel-1 image reveals the burn scars left by fires on the Greek island of Rhodes.
Between July 18 and 28, 2023, wildfires broke out on Rhodes. Fierce blazes damaged almost 18,000 hectares of land, ruined structures, caught animals, and led to a mass evacuation of thousands of tourists.

This image uses 2 Copernicus Sentinel-1 radar images, one from July 12 and one from July 24, to demonstrate how the land altered in between the 2 acquisitions.
Tones of grey suggest areas where little or no modification took place. Shades of red, primarily spreading from the mountainous area in the center of the island to the southern coast, illustrate the level of the burnt location– this covers approximately 13,000 hectares.
Wildfires burning on the Greek island of Rhodes forced the evacuation of thousands of individuals as flames spread out from the islands mountainous region to the coast. The Copernicus Sentinel-2 mission captured this image of the continuous blaze on July 23, 2023. Credit: Contains customized Copernicus Sentinel data (2023 ), processed by ESA, CC BY-SA 3.0 IGO
The lake of Gadoura, visible in black in the center of the island, was surrounded by the fires, as apparent from red areas.
The capital town of Rhodes can be viewed as a white area in the northeastern many idea of the island, while the summary of Rhodes International Airport sticks out in black on the coast southwest of the town. The runways in black south of the airport belong to Rhodes Maritsa Airport.
With international temperature levels rising and a surge of severe weather condition occasions, catastrophes such as wildfires have actually especially increased around the world. Earth observing satellites like the Copernicus Sentinel objectives use an eye in the sky to thoroughly keep track of and map these crisis scenarios at both international and local scales, and provide important details for emergency situation action.
ESA just recently reopened its World Fire Atlas, which, using Copernicus Sentinel-3 data, offers an insight into the distribution of specific fires across Earths surface area.
Nestled in the azure waters of the southeastern Aegean, Rhodes is the largest of Greeces Dodecanese islands and a beacon for tourists looking for sun, history, and sea. Typically described as the Island of the Knights, Rhodess storied past is etched into every cobblestone street, strengthened wall, and ancient temple.
Located in the southeastern Aegean Sea, Rhodes is the principal island of the Dodecanese archipelago, representing a significant geologic and geographical entity of Greece. Spanning an area of roughly 1,400 square kilometers, the island stands as a testament to the elaborate interplay of tectonic procedures, erosion, and sedimentary accumulation over millions of years.
Geologically, Rhodes has a diverse makeup, mainly consisting of metamorphic and igneous rocks, underpinning much of its rugged surface and coastline. This structure reveals the islands tumultuous geological past, formed by the merging of the African and Eurasian tectonic plates. Proof of this can be discovered in the islands fold and thrust belts, which attest to the powerful forces that when formed its topography.
Ataviros, the greatest peak on the island of Rhodes, stands as a testimony to the islands rugged appeal. Towering at over 1,200 meters, this magnificent mountain offers spectacular panoramas of the Aegean Sea and the surrounding landscapes. Rich in geological and historic significance, Ataviros is not only a hikers pleasure however also a window into the ancient tales and natural wonders of Rhodes.
The islands relief is characterized by a series of swelling mountains and hills, with the greatest peak, Ataviros, skyrocketing to an elevation of over 1,200 meters. These upland areas, primarily composed of limestone and sprinkled with pockets of dense pine forests, offer valuable insights into the areas karstic processes and the erosional patterns induced by the islands Mediterranean environment.
Rhodess coastline, going for practically 220 kilometers, is a study on the other hand. The eastern shores, dealing with the Aegean, are typically defined by carefully sloping coves and beaches, an outcome of the Aegean basins fairly protected nature and the presence of finer sedimentary deposits. In contrast, the western coast, which meets the Mediterranean, displays more abrupt and rugged developments, formed by the direct effect of dominating winds and waves.
With its abundant geomorphological functions, Rhodes uses a distinct lens into the dynamic geological history of the Aegean region and stands as a living lab for those eager to explore the Earths ever-evolving narrative.