Sicily’s Mount Etna, recognized as the world’s most active stratovolcano, is characterized by its tall cone resulting from continuous eruptions of viscous lava. In February, a significant volcanic event led to the eruption of volcanic ash and a lava flow extending three kilometers, prompting a partial airport closure. This dramatic moment was captured by one of the European Space Agency’s Copernicus Sentinel-2 satellites on February 12th.

In July, a massive iceberg drifted into the port of Innarsuit, Greenland, casting a shadow over the village of just 180 residents for over a week. Local authorities issued warnings for residents to exercise caution due to the risk of the iceberg collapsing and causing destructive waves, reminiscent of similar incidents in the area in the last decade. As climate change accelerates, the frequency of iceberg calving from glaciers is increasing.

As one of the most severe storms to hit the Atlantic, Hurricane Melissa registered winds nearing 300 kilometers per hour and dropped an astonishing 76 centimeters of rain on Jamaica on October 28. The storm devastated buildings along the Black River, with initial analyses suggesting climate change intensified Melissa’s winds by approximately 16 kilometers per hour. The year recorded three Category 5 hurricanes, marking a historic frequency.

The Qiantang River in China boasts the world’s highest tidal waves, where incoming tides create waves that can reach heights of up to 9 meters and travel upstream at speeds nearly hitting 40 kilometers per hour. Locals refer to this phenomenon as the “Silver Dragon,” attracting surfers from far and wide to join in the excitement during high tides in Jiaxing City.

On May 29, the Birch Glacier in the Swiss Alps experienced a severe collapse, resulting in a landslide that deposited approximately 9 million tons of debris. This massive event, equivalent to a magnitude 3.1 earthquake, buried a significant portion of the historic village of Bratten, also damming the nearby Lonza River. Thankfully, the village was evacuated with minimal loss of life. Experts attribute the landslide to thawing permafrost, critical for maintaining mountain stability. Without intervention, up to 90% of Alpine glaciers are projected to disappear by 2100, exacerbated by ongoing carbon dioxide emissions.

In January, rampant wildfires swept through the forested areas north of Los Angeles, notably ravaging regions such as the Pacific Palisades. These devastating fires, considered the costliest in U.S. history, claimed over 30 lives and devastated around 16,000 structures, incurring damages in the hundreds of billions. Critics have pointed to California’s lenient home insurance policies as a factor promoting risky construction near forests, with climate change further extending the wildfire season and increasing the likelihood of intense, dry, and windy conditions.