Soaring Surface Temperatures in Europe: A Look at the Real Earth Temperature Data
A persistent high-pressure system, known as a 'heat dome', has been the primary cause of a severe heatwave that has affected much of Southern Europe and North Africa in June 2025. This system, similar to a lid, traps hot, dry air beneath it, preventing heat from dissipating and causing temperatures to rise significantly above seasonal norms.
As the heat dome moves eastward, it draws in additional hot air from North Africa, further intensifying the extreme heat across the region. The result is a prolonged period of high temperatures impacting millions of people and ecosystems.
The heatwave has led to extremely high land and sea surface temperatures. Satellite data from the Copernicus Sentinel-3 mission shows that not only the land but also the Mediterranean Sea surface is extraordinarily warm, reinforcing the sustained high temperatures over coastal and inland areas.
The extreme heat has resulted in record-breaking temperatures. June 2025 became the second hottest June on record since 1900, with many places surpassing previous temperature records. Portugal saw its highest June temperature ever at 46.6°C near Lisbon, and parts of Spain, including Barcelona and El Granado, experienced extreme heat above 40°C regularly.
The heatwave has had widespread impacts. Health alerts have been issued due to the heatwave, and public health systems and infrastructure are under strain. There have been calls in Germany for heat protection regulations in schools and upgrades in hospitals to cope with extreme heat. The heatwave has also triggered fires in several regions and exacerbated drought conditions in some countries.
Moreover, the heatwave has led to spikes in air pollution, posing additional health risks. The heat dome's effects are being exacerbated by climate change, which scientists attribute to the increasing frequency and intensity of such heatwaves.
Monitoring Earth's surface temperature is crucial for understanding and predicting weather and climate patterns. The Copernicus Sentinel-3 mission's Sea and Land Surface Temperature Radiometer (SLSTR) is capable of measuring sea and land temperatures, providing valuable data for farmers in irrigation planning, urban design, and fire risk management.
The SLSTR's recent image released by the European Space Agency (ESA) on June 29, 2025, shows a mosaic of five orbital passes of the Earth's surface. The image reveals the temperature of the Earth's surface, not the air, and shows the Mediterranean Sea's marine surface temperature is also high.
Countries most affected by the heatwave include Spain, France, Greece, Cyprus, Algeria, and Italy. Guiding urban design to better mitigate heat and monitoring Earth's surface temperature to help in predicting and managing fire risk are essential in these challenging times.
Sources: [1] ESA (2025). Copernicus Sentinel-3 data reveal record heat in Europe. [online] Available at: https://www.esa.int/esaMI/Sentinel-3/SEM2K23KJ0I_0_5_0.html
[2] BBC News (2025). Europe heatwave: Temperatures soar in Spain and Portugal. [online] Available at: https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-europe-57647398
[3] The Guardian (2025). Europe heatwave: record temperatures and wildfires as climate change takes hold. [online] Available at: https://www.theguardian.com/environment/2025/jun/30/europe-heatwave-record-temperatures-and-wildfires-as-climate-change-takes-hold
- The extreme heat and high temperatures impacting millions of people and ecosystems across Southern Europe and North Africa, as a result of the moving heat dome and climate change, are causing records to be broken, as June 2025 became the second hottest June on record since 1900.
- In the realm of science and the environment, the ongoing heatwave, driven by the heat dome and climate change, is reflected in the high land and sea surface temperatures recorded by the Copernicus Sentinel-3 mission, which demonstrates the need for improved monitoring of Earth's surface temperature to better understand and predict weather and climate patterns.
