German astronaut Alexander Gerst said he is “shocked” by photos he captured from space that show a parched Earth — the result of this summer’s drastic heat.
“Just had a chance to take my first photos of dried-out Central Europe and Germany since a few weeks, and was shocked,” Gerst said in a Twitter post sharing the photos. “What should have been green, is now all brown. Never seen it like this before.”
The summer of 2018 has seen all-time highs in temperatures around the world, leaving Earth with a burnt appearance.
Just had a chance to take my first photos of dried-out Central Europe and Germany since a few weeks, and was shocked. What should have been green, is now all brown. Never seen it like this before. #Horizons pic.twitter.com/o2XoddPdrM
— Alexander Gerst (@Astro_Alex) August 6, 2018
For comparison, Gerst also shared photos from 2014, in which green fields are visible. The pictures were taken from aboard the International Space Station, where Gerst is working on 50 European experiments, according to DW News.
Hier zum Vergleich ein paar Fotos von 2014. Krasser Unterschied, mit bloßem Auge aus dem Weltraum sichtbar…
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Here for comparison a few photos from 2014, big difference, visible from space with the naked eye… pic.twitter.com/obFZQb5VC1— Alexander Gerst (@Astro_Alex) August 8, 2018
The northern California wildfires — the largest in the state’s history —re also visible from space. Gerst, a former firefighter himself, shared photos of the blaze earlier this month.
California burning. These fires are frightening to watch, even from space. Here's a shout-out from space to all firefighters on this planet, my former colleagues. Stay safe my friends! pic.twitter.com/y7PNmR006b
— Alexander Gerst (@Astro_Alex) August 3, 2018
Gerst’s first six-month mission on the ISS was in 2014. His current mission, Horizons, began in June of this year. Gerst is serving as the ISS Commander.