[ESA satellite images scorched burned burnt Europe]ESA * CHILLIER COUNTRIES MAY HAVE ENJOYED THE SPELL OF SUNNY WEATHER ACROSS EUROPE THIS SUMMER. * HOWEVER, THE HEAT OF THE PAST FEW WEEKS ALSO CAUSED A GREAT DEAL OF DAMAGE AND DESTRUCTION, BOTH TO PEOPLE AS WELL AS TO WILDLIFE. * THE EUROPEAN SPACE AGENCY AND GERMAN ASTRONAUT, ALEXANDER GERST, HAVE PUBLISHED SATELLITE IMAGES OF EUROPE FROM BEFORE AND AFTER THE HEATWAVE. ------------------------- While some in colder countries may have enjoyed the spell of sunny weather across Europe this summer, the heat of the past few weeks also caused a great deal of damage and destruction — both to people as well as to wildlife. Droughts across Europe caused numerous forest fires, with Sweden and Greece having been hit particularly hard. Thanks to the European Space Agency and German ESA astronaut, Alexander Gerst, you can actually see the extent of the damage across the whole of the continent in satellite images of Europe from before and after the heatwave. You can see the scary before and after photos below. THE LAND HAS TRANSITIONED FROM GREEN TO BROWN IN A MATTER OF MONTHS According to the ESA, these images were taken just two months apart. You can see Ireland, Great Britain, the Netherlands, and Belgium, as well as parts of Germany and France. DENMARK, SWEDEN AND GERMANY ALL SAW SIMILAR CHANGES OVER THE SAME PERIOD While at the end of June almost all areas were green, mere weeks later everything has dried out and been burnt brown. NASA'S SIDE-BY-SIDE COMPARISON BETWEEN THIS AND THE PREVIOUS YEAR SHOWS A DRAMATIC CHANGE NASA / Earth Observatory The speed at which the weather destroyed so much of Europe's green spaces is alarming. SEE THE REST OF THE STORY AT BUSINESS INSIDER SEE ALSO: * Scientists have found two planets outside our solar system that could host extra-terrestrial life * Your brain is wired to be prejudiced towards strangers — but psychologists say there's a way to trick yourself out of it * Veganism may be unsustainable in the future, according to new research SEE ALSO: SCIENTISTS HAVE FINALLY FOUND TWO PLANETS THAT COULD HOST EXTRA-TERRESTRIAL LIFE
 |
| READ THE ORIGINAL POST AT www.businessinsider.com |