Heatwaves and Droughts in Europe: A multi-year analysis using MODIS Land Surface Temperature Anomalies

In recent decades, European societies and ecosystems have faced recurrent extreme temperatures that contribute to a significant number of impacts, such as wildfires, heat-related illnesses, and crop losses. As heat extremes are further projected to increase in frequency and intensity, a better understanding and close monitoring of these events is necessary. In this study, remotely-sensed Land Surface Temperatures (LSTs) from the Moderate Resolution Imaging Spectroradiometer (MODIS) are used to assess recent heatwaves and droughts in Europe (2003 2023). Our results reveal that surface heat extremes are intensifying and becoming more frequent. Moreover, a strong coupling is found between surface thermal extremes, heatwaves (based on near-surface air temperatures) and droughts. Finally, surface LST anomalies are investigated in the context of shifts in energy partitioning under heatwaves/droughts, using eddy covariance flux measurements from the Integrated Carbon Observation System network.