Copernicus Browser adds wildfire visualization to improve tracking in Europe

The European Union’s Copernicus Browser, the web‑based interface that provides public access to the Copernicus Earth Observation data, has introduced a dedicated wildfire visualization layer. The new feature overlays near‑real‑time fire detections derived from Sentinel‑2 optical imagery and MODIS thermal anomalies, allowing users to view active hotspots, burn scars and fire progression across affected regions. Launched in early August 2026, the tool integrates daily updates from the Copernicus Emergency Management Service and offers customizable thresholds for fire radiative power, enabling analysts, emergency responders and the general public to monitor the unprecedented scale of the current wildfire season, which has already recorded more than 15 million hectares burned across Europe and the Mediterranean basin—figures that surpass the previous record set in 2020.

The addition of wildfire visualization comes as authorities grapple with heightened fire risk linked to prolonged heatwaves and drought conditions. By providing a transparent, freely accessible platform that visualizes both current and historical fire activity, the Copernicus Browser aims to improve situational awareness, support cross‑border coordination and inform mitigation strategies. Officials anticipate that the enhanced mapping capability will facilitate quicker decision‑making and more effective allocation of firefighting resources as the season progresses.