A recent study from Imperial College London reveals Amazon rainforest drought is caused by climate change. Scientists have found that the increasing drought in the Amazon Basin is mainly due to climate change, not El Niño.
The research shows that smallholder farmers, indigenous groups, and river communities are most affected. Their reliance on agriculture and river transport makes them vulnerable. The study also notes deforestation worsens the drought by affecting the land’s water retention.
Meteorological data indicates the drought is a rare, 1 in 100-year event. The report states that global temperature rise from climate change is the primary cause, not just reduced rainfall from El Niño.
The likelihood of such droughts is increasing. The study points to a tenfold rise in meteorological droughts and thirtyfold in agricultural droughts. This increase is linked to human actions like fossil fuel use and deforestation. The report warns of more frequent extreme droughts without immediate action to reduce emissions.
The study urges policy reforms and better water management. It calls for a united approach to tackle the growing threat of water stress from climate change.
The report emphasizes the serious effects of human-induced climate change on the Amazon. It advocates for immediate action to mitigate these effects and protect vulnerable areas.
A World Weather Attribution study confirms climate change’s role in the Amazon’s historic drought. The drought has caused low river levels, endangered dolphin deaths, and widespread disruptions. The study finds global warming made the drought 30 times more likely.
The drought affects all nine Amazon countries, including Brazil and Peru. Scientists predict worsening conditions this year. The Amazon is vital for absorbing greenhouse gases. The drought has led to record-low river levels in some areas.
Regina Rodrigues, a co-author, highlights Amazon’s dire situation. She warns of accelerated forest fires due to the Amazon rainforest drought, climate change, and deforestation.
“About 20% of the Amazon rainforest is deforested, and 40% is degraded — which means trees are still standing, but their health has faded and they are prone to fire and drought,” says Luciana Gatti, a climate-change researcher at Brazil’s National Institute for Space Research (Inpe) in São José dos Campos. “That was all done by humans.”
The study also recognizes El Niño’s impact on reducing rainfall. However, this drought has affected the entire Amazon basin, an unprecedented scope. In Brazil, a major river tributary hit its lowest level since 1902. This has disrupted transportation and access to necessities. The drought is linked to the deaths of Amazon river dolphins and fish due to low oxygen in tributaries.
Image Source: InfoAmazonia
