Collapsing ecosystems
in Cristiane’s house
Brazil's ecosystems are in crisis
The Amazon, the world's largest river basin, is in crisis. The Rio Negro has reached its lowest level in 122 years of monitoring. Many towns and communities in the region are isolated, and fish and dolphin deaths highlight the impact on wildlife. The forest is also struggling to maintain its role in carbon sequestration.
The Paraguai River in the Pantanal wetlands is at its lowest level in decades. The Cerrado savanna is also experiencing severe drought. Brazil's ecosystems are facing unprecedented challenges.
In Manaus, the capital of the state of Amazonas, the Rio Negro reached a record low of 12.66 meters on Friday morning (4), according to the port of Manaus. This is the lowest level ever recorded for the river, surpassing the previous record of 12.70 meters set in October 2023. The data was released by the Brazilian Geological Survey (Serviço Geológico do Brasil -SGB), which predicts that water levels could continue to fall in the coming days.
The Rio Negro is expected to continue receding throughout October until the flood cycle begins. "We have noticed that the rate of decline has slowed. We've gone from 23 centimeters per day to about 14 centimeters per day, and 11 centimeters this Friday," says Andre Martinelli, manager of hydrology and territorial management at the Manaus Regional Superintendence.
Martinelli notes that the impact in Manaus will only be felt when the Solimões River begins to flood. The Tabatinga station, located on the border with Colombia, recorded an unprecedented low of -254 cm on September 26, after which the water level began to rise, albeit with fluctuations. On Friday, October 4, the level at Tabatinga was -199 cm. Meanwhile, the Solimões River continued to flow at Manacapuru, reaching 242 cm on the same day.
It's worth noting that negative river levels do not indicate a completely dry riverbed. These measurements are based on historical data and local factors, and even when negative values are recorded, there may still be significant water depth in certain areas.
Extreme weather events
The Amazon is the world's largest rainforest and a global biodiversity hotspot, home to more than 10% of all known species on Earth. It is also the most important terrestrial carbon sink. The combined effects of deforestation and climate change are causing the Amazon to become drier. This shift threatens widespread tree mortality, which could release massive amounts of carbon dioxide into the atmosphere, further accelerating global warming.
The Amazon could be the decisive factor in our fight against climate change. If we protect the forest, it will continue to function as the world's largest land-based carbon sink.
However, the Amazon basin has experienced a series of extreme weather events linked to climate change over the past decade. The years 2021 and 2022 were characterized by major floods, while 2023 and 2024 were characterized by severe droughts. This pattern indicates that extreme weather events are becoming more frequent.
These fluctuations between extreme floods and droughts highlight the increasing volatility of the Amazon climate system. Such rapid shifts between water abundance and scarcity pose significant challenges to local ecosystems and communities, and underscore the urgent need for adaptation strategies and mitigation efforts.
Sources:
Climate change made unprecedented Amazon rainforest drought 30 times more likely
Nível do Rio Negro, em Manaus (AM), é o menor em 122 anos de monitoramento
fOCUS Amazônia
La casa de Cristiane
Cristiane’s house
Photos © Raphael Alves
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