Geographic Images

Popocatépetl is one of Mexico's most active and iconic volcanoes. Its name, which means “Smoking Mountain” in Nahuatl, the language of the Aztecs, aptly reflects its nature. Located about 70 km from Mexico City, Popocatépetl rises approximately 5,426 meters above sea level, making it the second-highest volcano in the country.

When natural or man-made disasters strike, quick and efficient response efforts are crucial to minimizing damage and saving lives. The Copernicus Emergency Management Service (CEMS), part of the European Union's Copernicus program, plays a vital role in this process by providing On-Demand Mapping services. Leveraging satellite imagery and other geospatial data, CEMS supports disaster response and recovery operations around the globe.

On October 3, 2024, the Copernicus Sentinel-3 satellite captured a striking image of Hurricane Kirk, located approximately 2,000 km southwest of the Azores Archipelago. At the time, the storm had intensified into a powerful Category 4 hurricane, causing concern across the Atlantic Ocean. Despite its position in the central Atlantic, Kirk's massive size caused damaging winds that affected parts of the Caribbean and the eastern coast of the United States, although it did not make landfall in these regions.

La Palma, one of Spain’s Canary Islands, has a fascinating geological history deeply influenced by volcanic activity. This volcanic legacy has shaped the island’s dramatic landscapes, from towering mountain ridges to vast depressions and newly formed land areas. In particular, the northern and southern zones of the island each tell a unique story of volcanic development, erosion, and renewal, culminating in the powerful eruption of Cumbre Vieja in 2021.