Amazon basin sees lowest rainfall in over 40 years
In 2023, all nine countries in the Amazon basin recorded their lowest rainfall in more than 40 years for July through September. According to recent research by the European Union Science Center, conditions have affected rivers and biodiversity, especially in the headwaters of the Solimões, Purus, Juruá, and Madeira rivers, all in the central-southern region of Amazonas state, as far as the southernmost countries of the forest, Peru and Bolivia.
In Amazonas, for example, rainfall ranged from 100 to 350 millimeters below normal—near half of what had been expected.
The study also confirmed that a series of heat waves from August to November raised the temperature by a record high for this time of year. The surges in these months amounted to two to five degrees Celsius above the historical average.
According to the most recent drought report, released by the Amazonas state government last Saturday (Dec. 23), all 62 municipalities in the state remain in a state of emergency, with more than 630 thousand people impacted by the drought so far.
Among the main problems aggravated by this year’s climate, the scientific center lists the danger to animal life, the increased risk of fire, and lower river levels, which challenge mobility in riverside communities and access to essential goods.
The European Union study also suggests the need for a comprehensive regional response beyond national borders. Forecasts indicate that conditions will likely become drier and hotter in 2024, mainly due to the El Niño, which is the warming of the Pacific Ocean.
