One of the greatest droughts to ever hit the Amazon area struck in 2023, causing major rivers like the Solimoes to have a sharp decline in water levels. The Madeira River near Porto Velho had a normal water level of 332 cm by September 2024, but by then it had decreased to barely 48 cm. Six cities in Brazil were placed under state of emergency by the government due to this sudden development.
Amazon Biodiversity and Communities Hit by Drought
- Extensive drought causes immense loss to wildlife and communities, especially Indigenous and riverine populations.
- All transportation of goods is severely impacted: food, fuel and medicine.
- The Amazon, which is home to some 47 million people and heavily dependent on its rivers.
Record-Breaking Wildfires
- Droughts saw the highest number of fire outbreaks in 20 years.
- These have lead to massive carbon emissions, adding greatly towards the environmental crisis.
Cause of Drought
- Climate change, El Niño weather pattern causing worsening drought
- The tropical Atlantic Ocean is warmer, with the intertropical convergence zone (ITCZ) moving northward and causing less rainfall.
Long-Term Effects
- More tree death in drier conditions means less vegetation to absorb carbon, and more dead trees mean there is a greater fire risk.
- The true impacts of the drought still unknown.
Month: Current Affairs - October 14, 2024
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