The impact of Sweden’s summer heatwave is visible from space

Gotland seen from above in 2017 (L) and 2018. Photo: Rymdstyrelsen/Google/Esa

A prolonged summer heatwave has had a serious impact on Sweden, from forest fires raging above the Arctic circle last month to farmers running out of food for their livestock. The impact of the drought is even visible from space, images from the National Space Agency show.

July 2018 was the warmest on record, and over the past three months there has been little rain across large parts of the country. The government last week announced 1.2 billion kronor ($137 million) in aid to help farmers hit hard by the drought.

The extreme impact of the warm, dry summer has pushed climate issues up to the second most important issue for voters in Sweden's September election, one survey said.

Pictures from the EU's Earth Observation Programme Copernicus show just how much the landscape in many parts of Sweden has changed compare to last summer.

Stockholm in 2017. Photo: Rymdstyrelsen/Google/Esa</span>

Stockholm in 2018. Photo: Rymdstyrelsen/Google/Esa

Jönköping in 2017.Photo: Rymdstyrelsen/Google/Esas

Jönköping in 2018.Photo: Rymdstyrelsen/Google/Esa

Skåne in 2017. Photo: Rymdstyrelsen/Google/Esa

Skåne in 2018. Photo: Rymdstyrelsen/Google/Esa

Östergötland in 2017. Photo: Rymdstyrelsen/Google/Esa

Östergötland in 2018. Photo: Rymdstyrelsen/Google/Esa

Uppsala in 2017. Photo: Rymdstyrelsen/Google/Esa

Uppsala in 2018. Photo: Rymdstyrelsen/Google/Esa

Västra Götaland in 2017. Photo: Rymdstyrelsen/Google/Esa

Västra Götaland in 2018. Photo: Rymdstyrelsen/Google/Esa