“This is already the fourth time that we have managed to engage the Earth observation community in this unique pro-environmental action. This year we wanted to draw attention to the catastrophic phenomena resulting from global warming and its impact on many communities. The forty works submitted from all over the world prove that this topic is important for many scientists and space enthusiasts and show how EO data can be used to perform environmental research. We are happy that our cloud services for Earth observation enable providing reliable and timely information to decision makers.”
Joanna Małaśnicka, Marketing Director at CloudFerro
The image I selected depicts Hurricane Hilary's impact on Death Valley in the United States. Known for its extreme heat and aridity, Death Valley typically receives minimal precipitation, particularly in the summer. However, on August 20, 2023, Hurricane Hilary brought an unprecedented volume of rain, setting a new record for the wettest day in Death Valley's history. Consequently, the area experienced flash floods, a common occurrence when large amounts of water inundate dry terrain, leading to the closure of the Death Valley National Park for safety reasons. I think this image clearly symbolizes how extreme meteorological events caused by climate change are reshaping the world as we've known it for decades, while also showcasing the incredible sight of a literal lake in the desert.
Lorenzo Amici from Italy, PhD student at Politecnico di Milano
Columbia Glacier located in Wrangell-St. Elias National Park and Preserve Alaska is an iconic glacier, famous for being one of the fastest melting glaciers in the World. Its melting history is significant and clearly noticeable over the last few decades. Satellite observations and scientific research show that Columbia Glacier is losing great amounts of ice mass, which is contributing to rising sea levels around the world. The glacier currently diminishes in depth about 5 meters per year, and it has receded more than 1.5 km, and over half of its volume was lost in the past 125 years. The melting of the glacier is caused mainly by climate change, and the increase in atmospheric temperature causes the glacier to melt faster than it regenerates. Columbia Glacier is one of many examples of how our planet responds to global warming and climate change. This story is a wake-up call and a reminder of the urgent need to act on climate and environmental protection. Changes taking place at Columbia Glacier provide clear evidence of human impact on our planet and remind us of our responsibility for its future.
Kamil Onoszko from Poland, a GIS Specialist
Media Contact:
Przemysław Kozera
p.kozera@planetpartners.pl
