Soil moisture anomalies over 2024 compared to 1991–2020

According to the newly released 35th State of the Climate report, 2024 saw record highs as the climate crisis deepens. Data records such as soil moisture, lake-surface temperature, permafrost, land-surface temperature and stratospheric ozone from ESA’s Climate Change Initiative helped underpin the report’s findings.

This animation shows 2024 monthly anomalies in soil moisture (water content per cubic metre of soil) compared to the reference period 1991–2020. Regions like the Sahel saw levels of soil moisture twice as high as normal, while much of the Americas faced severe drought conditions, including record-breaking drought coverage in the United States that affected nearly half the country.

Read full story: ESA data records help underpin climate change report