March 22nd, 2013 Category: Climate Change

Spain – March 20th, 2013

This image offers a look at the Iberian Peninsula, with Portugal by the west coast and Spain occupying the rest of the territory. A recent assessment report has found that the southern Iberian Peninsula could be one of the regions most affected by increase in year-to-year variability in summer climates and thus a higher incidence of heat waves and droughts. Mediterranean droughts would start earlier in the year and last longer.

There is also evidence of significant recent range shifts to higher elevation, with some animal species shifting over 200m up in the lower elevational limit due to increased temperature. Treeline has also shifted to higher altitudes due to increased temperature (click here for more information).

Tags: Iberian Peninsula Portugal Spain | Comments |

July 24th, 2012 Category: Fires

Portugal and Spain – July 23rd, 2012

Spain and Portugal are experiencing problems with wildfires this summer. Here, smoke from a blaze in Spain’s Sierra de Francia, a mountain range located at the southern end of province of Salamanca, Castile and León, can be seen blowing southward from near the image center. Most of the Sierra de Francia’s territory, together with the valley of Las Batuecas was declared a natural park under the name Parque Natural de Las Batuecas-Sierra de Francia.

Tags: Castile and Leon Fires Parque Natural de Las Batuecas Portugal Salamanca Sierra de Francia Spain | Comments |

July 22nd, 2012 Category: Fires, Image of the day

Portugal – July 20th, 2012

Scores of people have abandoned their homes as fires spread across parts of Madeira in Portugal. The Algarve region in Portugal has been among the worst hit areas. Overnight six firefighters suffered minor injuries fighting the blaze in Tavira, an area which has experienced the most serious fires. More than 900 firefighters from across the country were deployed to battle the blaze which has destroyed at least five homes. Here, smoke from the Tavira fire can be seen blowing to the south, over the Atlantic Ocean.

Tags: Algarve Fires Madeira Portugal Tavira | Comments |

June 28th, 2012 Category: Dust Storms

Spain and Morocco – June 26th, 2012

Dust from the Sahara Desert blows off the coast of Mauritania, Western Sahara and Morocco, over the Canary Islands and the Madeira Archipelago (north of the former), and far north over the Atlantic Ocean. Here, the dust appears thickest in the lower left quadrant and just north of the Madeira Archipelago. Although the dust does not reach the Iberian Peninsula, it is not far from the coast, and some can be seen blowing towards the Strait of Gibraltar.

Tags: Canary Islands Dust Iberian Peninsula Madeira Archipelago Mauritania Morocco Portugal Spain Strait of Gibraltar Western Sahara | Comments |