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The effects of July 2023 storms
The effects of July 2023 storms
Monza Park is one of the largest walled parks in Europe, and its vegetation is one of its most precious treasures. However, the violent storms of 2023 caused enormous damage, knocking down hundreds of trees and weakening many others. For this reason, we believe it is urgent to take action to protect and restore the park's natural environment.
We analysed how the vegetation changed over time from 2022 to 2025. We chose for each year to focus on the images taken in may for consistency.
Through Sentinel 2 satellite images we observed the effects of the storm that hit Monza on 25 July 2023. We focused on Monza Park to understand the extent of the damages and if they are still affecting the vegetation after two and a half years.
The following images represent the true colour and NDVI, normalised difference vegetation index. This is an effective index for quantifying green vegetation. It measures the health of vegetation based on how plants reflect light at specific wavelengths. The value of NDVI varies between -1 and 1. Negative values near -1 correspond to water. Values near zero (-0.1 to 0.1) usually correspond to dry areas of rock, sand or snow. Low positive values correspond to grassland and shrubs (0.2 to 0.4), high values close to 1 indicate temperare forests.
May 2022
May 2022
As you can see in the following images, vegetation was healty and lush in 2022.
Sentinel-2 L2A True color - Parco di Monza, 5 may 2022
Credit: European Union, contains modified Copernicus Sentinel data 2025, processed with Copernicus Browser
Credit: European Union, contains modified Copernicus Sentinel data 2025, processed with Copernicus Browser
Sentinel-2 L2A NDVI - Parco di Monza, 5 may 2022
Credit: European Union, contains modified Copernicus Sentinel data 2025, processed with Copernicus Browser
Credit: European Union, contains modified Copernicus Sentinel data 2025, processed with Copernicus Browser
May 2023
May 2023
In 2023 the park was object of extraordinary forest maintenance to ensure the safety of the tree heritage.
Sentinel-2 L2A True color - Parco di Monza, 6 may 2023
Credit: European Union, contains modified Copernicus Sentinel data 2025, processed with Copernicus Browser
Credit: European Union, contains modified Copernicus Sentinel data 2025, processed with Copernicus Browser
Sentinel-2 L2A NDVI - Parco di Monza, 6 may 2023
Credit: European Union, contains modified Copernicus Sentinel data 2025, processed with Copernicus Browser
Credit: European Union, contains modified Copernicus Sentinel data 2025, processed with Copernicus Browser
Summer 2023
Summer 2023
The images below show the park before (left) and after (right) the storm that hit the city on the 25 july 2023. It can be clearly seen that the storm had devastating effects on the vegetation. Numero di alberi abbattuti
Sentinel-2 L2A True color - Parco di Monza, 10 july 2023
Credit: European Union, contains modified Copernicus Sentinel data 2025, processed with Copernicus Browser
Credit: European Union, contains modified Copernicus Sentinel data 2025, processed with Copernicus Browser
Sentinel-2 L2A True color - Parco di Monza, 14 august 2023
Credit: European Union, contains modified Copernicus Sentinel data 2025, processed with Copernicus Browser
Credit: European Union, contains modified Copernicus Sentinel data 2025, processed with Copernicus Browser
Sentinel-2 L2A NDVI - Parco di Monza, 10 july 2023
Credit: European Union, contains modified Copernicus Sentinel data 2025, processed with Copernicus Browser
Credit: European Union, contains modified Copernicus Sentinel data 2025, processed with Copernicus Browser
Sentinel-2 L2A NDVI - Parco di Monza, 14 august 2023
Credit: European Union, contains modified Copernicus Sentinel data 2025, processed with Copernicus Browser
Credit: European Union, contains modified Copernicus Sentinel data 2025, processed with Copernicus Browser
May 2024
May 2024
In 2024 the damages caused by the storm can still be clearly seen form satellite images: especially in the north part of the park.
Sentinel-2 L2A True color - Parco di Monza, 10 may 2024
Credit: European Union, contains modified Copernicus Sentinel data 2025, processed with Copernicus Browser
Credit: European Union, contains modified Copernicus Sentinel data 2025, processed with Copernicus Browser
Sentinel-2 L2A NDVI - Parco di Monza, 10 may 2024
Credit: European Union, contains modified Copernicus Sentinel data 2025, processed with Copernicus Browser
Credit: European Union, contains modified Copernicus Sentinel data 2025, processed with Copernicus Browser
May 2025
May 2025
In 2025 it can be seen that vegetation started recovering. However, comparing the true colour images form 2025 and from 2022, it is clear that the lush forest has been replaced by meadows and low-growing plants that normally make up the undergrowth.
Sentinel-2 L2A True color - Parco di Monza, 15 may 2025
Credit: European Union, contains modified Copernicus Sentinel data 2025, processed with Copernicus Browser
Credit: European Union, contains modified Copernicus Sentinel data 2025, processed with Copernicus Browser
Sentinel-2 L2A NDVI - Parco di Monza, 15 may 2025
Credit: European Union, contains modified Copernicus Sentinel data 2025, processed with Copernicus Browser
Credit: European Union, contains modified Copernicus Sentinel data 2025, processed with Copernicus Browser
Copernicus Browser
Copernicus Browser
Copernicus is the European Union's Earth observation programme, dedicated to monitoring our planet and its environment.
The programme uses data from satellites and ground, airborne and maritime measurement systems to provide information to help improve the quality of life of European citizens.
We used Copernicus Browser to acces and elaborate the images and data shown in this page.
A graphical rendition of the Sentinel family of satellites orbiting Earth (Source: ESA)
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