Satellite image showing drought (brown) in western Europe during the first three months of 2023 (along bottom) compared to the same period in 2022 (along top). The maps show the amount of moisture in the soil in comparison to the 2010-2023 average. The lack of moisture was due to higher than average temperatures and low rainfall from December 2022 to March 2023. If drought conditions persist there will be adverse outcomes for water supplies, agriculture and energy production. Data obtained by the Soil Moisture and Ocean Salinity (SMOS) satellite.