On World Atmosphere Day, the Copernicus Sentinel-2 mission brings us a tremendous view from area of Baku, capital of Azerbaijan, internet hosting this 12 months’s celebration.
Zoom in to discover this picture at its full 10 m decision.
On this false-colour picture, Baku is seen in gray on the southern aspect of the Absheron Peninsula, seen jutting out from Azerbaijan’s coast for 60 km into the Caspian Sea. The Peninsula protects the town from the cruel winds blowing all year long, whereas the Bay of Baku, sheltered to the south by the Baku Archipelago, gives the perfect harbour within the Caspian Sea.
Baku is 28 m beneath sea stage, which makes it each the lowest-lying capital and the most important metropolis on the planet beneath sea stage. With an space of round 2140 sq km and a inhabitants of greater than two million folks, Baku can be the most important metropolis on the Caspian Sea and the most important within the Caucasus area.
This picture, captured in January 2026, was processed together with Sentinel-2’s near-infrared channel, which is mostly used to evaluate plant density and well being, as crops replicate near-infrared and inexperienced gentle, whereas absorbing crimson. Since they replicate extra near-infrared than inexperienced, dense, plant-covered land seems in shiny crimson.
Water our bodies, corresponding to lakes and the Caspian Sea seem in darkish blue or black relying on their depth. Turbid waters, corresponding to these seen alongside the coasts, seem in cyan or gentle blue, most probably on account of sediment flowing from rivers into the ocean. Inland water our bodies could be noticed in numerous shades of azure owing to their turbidity.
Variously classed because the world’s largest lake or the smallest full-fledged sea, the Caspian Sea is the most important landlocked water physique on the planet, with a complete floor space of 371 000 sq km. Its enclosed nature means it’s residence to some distinctive animals and crops, however additionally it is susceptible to air pollution from agriculture and trade. The Caspian has skilled giant variations in its water stage in the previous couple of many years, a improvement not less than partly on account of human exercise.
Celebrated annually on 5 June, the UN’s World Environment Day focuses on consciousness of environmental challenges and motion to guard our planet. This 12 months’s focus is on local weather change and on the pressing alerts the Earth is sending. With impacts already being felt throughout each area, and the dangers accelerating, choice‑makers want dependable proof for efficient motion.
Earth Motion – a core pillar of the FutureEO programme – is considered one of ESA’s responses to this urgency. It gives a coordinated framework, that interprets ESA’s world-leading Earth commentary science, knowledge and purposes into trusted, choice‑prepared info and options to assist customers anticipate change and act to cut back danger and construct resilience.
