Belgium experienced a morning of snow that left a white blanket of more than 20 cm in the east of the country, providing some beautiful scenery. Meanwhile, the Copernicus Climate Change Service (C3S) released its February 2023 monthly climate bulletin. Satellite data revealed that sea ice extent at the South Pole decreased by 34% compared to the February average, which set a new record compared to February 2017.
The daily sea ice extent in Antarctica also reached an all-time low, surpassing last year’s record. Samantha Burgess, deputy director of C3S, warns that declining Antarctic sea ice could have major implications for the stability of Antarctic ice shelves and sea level rise. The ice caps are a key indicator of the climate crisis, making it essential to monitor changes closely through programs such as Copernicus.
In addition, February 2023 was the fifth warmest February globally and in Europe, with most of the continent experiencing above-average temperatures, except for the Iberian Peninsula and Turkey, where they were lower. The winter of 2022–2023 recorded significantly above-average temperatures in Eastern Europe and parts of northeastern Europe, making it the second warmest winter on record in Europe.
The Copernicus program, coordinated and managed by the European Commission, provides information services based on satellite and in situ Earth observation data, enabling experts to keep a close eye on the evolution of climate change. It is crucial to monitor changes and adapt to changing conditions in order to address the climate crisis.