File:Unusually low ice cover level in the Great Lakes (Copernicus 2024-02-21).jpg

English: The Great Lakes, which consist of five lakes: Superior, Ontario, Erie, Huron, and Michigan, are a vital freshwater resource, collectively holding about one-fifth of the world's surface freshwater and serving as crucial ecosystems and transportation routes. These interconnected bodies of water, bordered by the United States and Canada, hit record low levels of surface ice due to unusually warm temperatures and to the absence of seasonal Arctic cold air blasts. Although early season lows do not necessarily translate into record-low maximum extents, ice formation remained minimal through mid-February, with a peak of just over 16 percent on 22 January, followed by a steady decline to under 3 percent by 15 February. This image was acquired by one of the Copernicus Sentinel-3 satellites on 20 February 2024 and shows the lakes with almost no surface ice. The Copernicus Sentinel satellites play a crucial role in the monitoring of the cryosphere (glaciers, sea ice, freshwater surface ice, snow) worldwide, providing essential information which supports researchers and decision-makers in the development of effective strategies for addressing the challenges stemming from climate change.