In the Sentinel-2 satellites’ orbital view, Do\u00f1ana’s wetlands<\/a> appear as shifting patches of dark blue and violet, signatures of shallow water spread across the park’s floodplain. But when scientists examined how those patterns have changed over time, a clear decline emerged. Since 2005, the marsh has experienced a marked reduction in wet surface area, water volume and average depth, with losses accelerating after 2010 as regional temperatures rose and rainfall declined.<\/p>\n You may like<\/p>\n \n Views of Do\u00f1ana National Park in Spain by Europe’s Sentinel-2 satellites reveal the wetlands’ dramatic decline over time. Wet soil appears in dark blue and surface water is highlighted in magenta in these two images, which were captured in January 2005 (left) and January 2024 (right). The difference clearly shows how once-extensive marshes are shrinking and drying. (Image credit: University of Seville)<\/p>\n The new study, led by scientists at the University of Seville, combined satellite<\/a> observations with machine-learning techniques to distinguish water from vegetation and dry soil. That approach allowed researchers not only to reconstruct how Do\u00f1ana’s marsh has evolved over time but also to project its future under different climate scenarios.<\/p>\n <\/p>\n In the most likely outcome, continued warming<\/a> and drying would push the marsh past a tipping point within a few decades. The researchers estimate this could happen in as few as 45 years or as much as 175 years, depending on future temperature and precipitation trends and whether or not humans intervene, according to a statement<\/a> describing the study.<\/p>\n That said, climate change<\/a> is only part of the story. Do\u00f1ana also depends heavily on groundwater, which has been increasingly depleted by intensive agriculture, ineffective wastewater treatment and reuse, and illegal wells in surrounding areas. As aquifer levels drop, less water reaches the marsh, compounding the effects of drought and heat. Even wetter years that temporarily flood the landscape no longer appear sufficient to reverse the long-term downward trend seen from space<\/a>, according to the scientists.<\/p>\n The implications extend far beyond southern Spain. Wetlands like Do\u00f1ana act as natural buffers against climate extremes<\/a>, storing water during wet periods and releasing it slowly during dry ones. They also serve as biological hubs, supporting species that migrate across continents. Losing such a system would ripple through ecosystems far beyond the park’s boundaries.<\/p>\n “This technology not only identifies areas affected by drought or falling groundwater levels but also supports decision-making for ecosystem conservation<\/a>,” according to the statement. “As a scalable and automated approach, the algorithm can be applied to other natural environments facing similar challenges, thus contributing to more efficient and sustainable water management.”<\/p>\n Researchers stress that Do\u00f1ana’s fate is not sealed. Stronger groundwater<\/a> regulation, the closure of illegal wells and managing water more sustainably could slow or even partially reverse the marsh’s decline. However, the satellite data offers an unambiguous warning: Even Europe’s most iconic wetlands are fragile, and their disappearance is already underway.<\/p>\n![\"two](\"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/nz\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/02\/iT7xuMH6dchp8a66hq6bU9.jpg\")
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