The Environmental Atlas

The impact of international shipping on European air quality and climate forcing: This EEA Technical report provides an overview on the state of knowledge on the impact of international shipping in European waters to air quality and climate change. Based on literature review and model assessment studies information is provided on past and future emissions of air pollutants and greenhouse gases, monitoring of ship emissions, emission mitigation policies and impact on European air quality and radiative forcing.
Located in Publications
The melting Arctic: The extent of the sea ice in the Arctic reached a new record low in September 2012. Climate change is melting the sea ice in the region at a rate much faster than estimated by earlier projections. The snow cover also shows a downward trend. The melting Arctic might impact not only the people living in the region, but also elsewhere in Europe and beyond.
Located in Articles
Climate change evident across Europe, confirming urgent need for adaptation: Climate change is affecting all regions in Europe, causing a wide range of impacts on society and the environment. Further impacts are expected in the future, potentially causing high damage costs, according to the latest assessment published by the European Environment Agency today.
Located in Press room › News
Climate change, impacts and vulnerability in Europe 2012: This European Environment Agency (EEA) report presents information on past and projected climate change and related impacts in Europe, based on a range of indicators. The report also assesses the vulnerability of society, human health and ecosystems in Europe and identifies those regions in Europe most at risk from climate change. Furthermore, the report discusses the principle sources of uncertainty for the indicators and notes how monitoring and scenario development can improve our understanding of climate change, its impacts and related vulnerabilities.
Located in Publications
Heating degree days (CLIM 047) - Assessment published Nov 2012: The number of heating degree days (HDD) has decreased by an average of 16 per year since 1980. This helps reduce the demand for heating, particularly in northern and north-western Europe. Climate change will affect future energy and electricity demand. Climate change is not expected to change total energy demand in Europe substantially across Europe, but there may be significant seasonal effects, with large regional differences.
Located in Data and maps › Indicators › Heating degree days
Burnt forest area in five southern European countries - outdated: Burnt forest area (in ha) in five southern European countries from 1980 to 2010.
Located in Data and maps › Maps and graphs
Forest fires (CLIM 035) - Assessment published Nov 2012: Fire risk depends on many factors, including climatic conditions, vegetation (e.g. fuel load and condition), forest management practices and other socio-economic factors. The number of fires in the Mediterranean region has increased over the period from 1980 to 2000; it has decreased thereafter. In a warmer climate, more severe fire weather and an expansion of the fire-prone area and longer fire seasons, as a consequence, are projected, but with considerable regional variation. The impact of fire events is particularly strong in southern Europe on already degraded ecosystems.
Located in Data and maps › Indicators › Forest fires
Soil moisture (CLIM 029) - Assessment published Nov 2012: Soil water retention is a major soil hydrological property that governs soil functioning in ecosystems and greatly affects soil management. There is no clear indication on past trends for water retention across the EU due to a lack of systematic and harmonised data. Water retention capacity and soil moisture content will be affected by rising temperatures and by a decline in soil organic matter due to both changes in climate and land management. Projections (for 2071–2100) show a general reduction in summer soil moisture over most of Europe, significant reductions in the Mediterranean region, and increases in the north-eastern part of Europe. Maintaining water retention capacity and porosity are important to reduce the impacts of intense rainfall and droughts, which are projected to become more frequent and severe.
Located in Data and maps › Indicators › Soil moisture
Lake and river ice cover (CLIM 020) - Assessment published Nov 2012: The existence of ice cover and the timing of ice break-up influence the vertical mixing of lakes and are therefore of critical ecological importance. The duration of ice cover on European lakes and rivers has shortened at a mean rate of 12 days per century over the last 150–200 years. A further decrease in the duration of lake ice cover is projected with projected climate change.
Located in Data and maps › Indicators › Lake and river ice cover
Trends in warm days and cool nights across Europe: Warm days are defined as being above the 90th percentile of the daily maximum temperature and cool nights as below the 10th percentile of the daily minimum temperature (Alexander et al., 2006). Grid boxes outlined in solid black contain at least three stations and so are likely to be more representative of the grid-box. High confidence in the long-term trend is shown by a black dot. (In the maps above, this is the case for all grid boxes.) Area averaged annual time series of percentage changes and trend lines are shown below each map for one area in northern Europe (green line, 5.6 ° to 16.9 °E and 56.2 ° to 66.2 °N) and one in south-western Europe (purple line, 350.6 ° to 1.9 °E and 36.2 ° to 43.7 °N).
Located in Data and maps › Maps and graphs