Water levels in major rivers in the Amazon River basin are falling to historic lows due to an unusual drought, endangering species, separating communities, and raising concerns about the rapidly worsening effects of climate change on this vital ecosystem.
Amazon Rivers At Record Lows
During the 2023–2024 drought, the major rivers in the Amazon basin have seen historically low levels, breaking records and changing the landscape. At Porto Velho, the Madeira River, which supplies roughly 15% of the water in the Amazon Basin, fell to just 48 cm, well below its typical 3.32 meters. Similar steep drops have been seen in other significant tributaries:
In Tabatinga, the Solimões River fell to its lowest level ever recorded, with some regions totally drying up.
The Purus River dropped over two meters below its 1983 record low.
Itacoatiara’s measurements of the Amazon River itself were 4.7 meters, 3.3 meters below the previous record established in 2017.
Large sandbanks have been exposed by these exceptionally low water levels, which have also interfered with river navigation and cut off towns that depend on rivers for basic commodities and services. As the dry season usually lasts until November, experts predict that the situation will get worse and that additional records will be broken.
Climate Change As A Cause Of Drought
El Niño has been overshadowed by climate change as the main cause of the extraordinary dryness in the Amazon River basin. According to a World Weather Attribution study, human-caused global warming increased the likelihood of the 2023 drought by 30 times. El Niño decreased precipitation in the area, although rising global temperatures were mostly responsible for the drought’s intensity. Deforestation, wildfires, and climate change have combined to create a hazardous feedback loop that is making drought conditions worse:
Water stress is made worse by rising temperatures because they cause more evaporation and soil dryness.
Rainfall patterns are directly impacted by deforestation because it lessens the forest’s capacity to recycle moisture through evapotranspiration.
Smoke from wildfires, which are frequently connected to land clearance operations, influences the creation of rain and deteriorates the forest even more.
These elements are bringing the Amazon closer to a possible tipping point, where enormous swaths of the rainforest may give way to savannah-like ecosystems, with catastrophic worldwide consequences.
Effects On The Community And Wildlife
The Amazon basin’s animals and indigenous populations have been severely damaged by the drought. Some indigenous peoples are compelled to trek great distances along dried riverbeds in order to dig for water, and others are having difficulty accessing clean water and food supplies. Many villages have been cut off from necessary supplies and medical aid due to transportation difficulties. More than 200 freshwater dolphins perished in Lake Tefe last year, which has since dried up entirely, demonstrating the serious impact on wildlife. Traditional hunting grounds have been interrupted and fish deaths have been widespread as a result of the drought. Some metropolitan areas have imposed water rationing measures, while affected regions have seen blackouts due to hydropower interruptions. The situation has brought attention to how susceptible the Amazon’s wildlife and human populations are to catastrophic weather events.
Forecasts For Future Drought
If greenhouse gas emissions keep increasing at their current rates, climate models predict a bleak future for the Amazon basin. A fourfold increase in the frequency of agricultural droughts similar to the one that occurred in 2023 could occur every 10 to 15 years by the time global warming hits 2°C over pre-industrial levels. The resilience of the Amazon is seriously threatened by these escalating drought cycles:
Extreme droughts that occur more frequently might cause the rainforest to approach a tipping point and hasten the shift to ecosystems more akin to savannas.
Reduced forest regeneration and widespread tree mortality could result from prolonged dry seasons and increased water stress.
More severe droughts and ongoing deforestation might seriously impair the Amazon’s vital function in regulating the world’s climate and protecting biodiversity.
These forecasts highlight how urgently stronger water management plans and vigorous climate action are needed to safeguard the Amazon’s future.