Brazil is experiencing its worst drought since nationwide measurements began more than seven decades ago, affecting 59 percent of the country — an area roughly the size of half the United States.
Major rivers in the Amazon basin are experiencing record low levels, and out-of-control wildfires have devastated protected areas and generated smoke that affects air quality.
“This is the first time that a drought has spread from the north to the southeast of the country,” Ana Paula Cunha, a researcher at the National Center for Monitoring and Early Warning of Natural Disasters, said in a statement Thursday. “It is the most intense and widespread drought in the history” of Brazil.
Smoke on Monday afternoon left residents of Sao Paulo — a metropolitan area of 21 million people — breathing the second-most polluted air in the world after Lahore, Pakistan, according to data compiled by IQAir, a Swiss air monitoring technology company.
Some 1,100 kilometres to the north, a fire is consuming the Chapada dos Veadeiros National Park, one of Brazil’s most famous tourist sites.
“This year, the dry season started much earlier than in previous years, while the rainy season was intense but short,” Nayara Stacheski, the park’s director, told The Associated Press. “The wind is strong, the air humidity is very low and it is very hot. All of this makes the fire worse.”
On Monday, a fire was burning out of control in a remote area. A helicopter carrying firefighters was expected to arrive. Another fire was contained by 80 firefighters, with support from two aircraft. Two more fires threatened to enter the park.
The fires in one of the few protected areas of the Cerrado — the Brazilian savannah — are just the latest disaster in a country that has been ravaged by flames for months. Since the beginning of the year until September 8, Brazil has recorded almost 160,000 fires, the worst year since 2010. In the Pantanal, the largest wetland in the world, it has been the second worst year for fires on record.
Most of the fires are caused by means of deforestation or to clear pastures and agricultural land. So far this year, an area the size of Italy has burned in Brazil.
Fire is not the only problem. For more than 1,900 kilometers (1,200 miles) from Chapada dos Veadeiros northeast, the Amazon — the world’s largest river — and one of its main tributaries, the Madeira River, have been at historically low levels in the city of Tabatinga. There is no sign of a timeline for this to improve; significant rains are not expected until October.
Dozens of communities have been cut off by low river levels. One of the largest is Filadelfia, home to 387 families from the Tikuna tribe. Because of the drought, there is a shortage of clean water and children are drinking unclean water, leading to an increase in illness. Food is scarce as crops die and it is increasingly difficult to travel to the city, Myrian Tikuna, a local leader, told the AP.
Tikuna sent a selfie taken on Monday in his community. Instead of water, endless sandbanks dominate the landscape.
“This used to be the Amazon River,” he said. “Now it’s a desert. If things get worse, our people will disappear. We are just now realizing the seriousness of climate change.”
With information from AP
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2024-09-11 06:58:22
Table of Contents
Brazil’s Worst Drought in 70 Years: A Devastating Crisis Unfolds
Brazil is grappling with its worst drought in over seven decades, with a staggering 59% of the country affected – an area roughly the size of half the United States [[Reference]]. The drought has led to record-low water levels in major rivers in the Amazon basin, including the Amazon River and its tributaries, such as the Madeira River [[1]]. The situation is further exacerbated by raging wildfires that have devastated protected areas, generating smoke that severely affects air quality.
Unprecedented Drought and Wildfires
“This is the first time that a drought has spread from the north to the southeast of the country,” said Ana Paula Cunha, a researcher at the National Center for Monitoring and Early Warning of Natural Disasters [[Reference]]. ”It is the most intense and widespread drought in the history” of Brazil. The drought has resulted in the dry season starting earlier than usual, while the rainy season was intense but short, creating a perfect storm for wildfires [[Reference]].
Air Quality Crisis
The smoke from the wildfires has left residents of Sao Paulo, a metropolitan area of 21 million people, breathing the second-most polluted air in the world after Lahore, Pakistan, according to data compiled by IQAir, a Swiss air monitoring technology company [[Reference]].
Protected Areas Under Threat
The Chapada dos Veadeiros National Park, one of Brazil’s most famous tourist sites, is currently being consumed by a fire that is spreading rapidly due to strong winds, low air humidity, and high temperatures [[Reference]]. The park’s director, Nayara Stacheski, expressed concern that the fire could worsen due to the prevailing weather conditions.
Fires Ravage Brazil
Since the beginning of the year, Brazil has recorded almost 160,000 fires, making it the worst year since 2010 [[Reference]]. In the Pantanal, the largest wetland in the world, it has been the second worst year for fires on record. Most of these fires are caused by deforestation or clearing pastures and agricultural land, resulting in an area the size of Italy being burned so far this year [[Reference]].
River Levels at Historic Lows
The Amazon River and its tributaries have been at historically low levels in the city of Tabatinga, affecting dozens of communities that have been cut off by low river levels [[Reference]]. The situation is particularly dire for communities like Filadelfia, home to 387 families from the Tikuna tribe, which is facing a severe shortage of food and water due to the drought.
Future Outlook
Scientists have warned that the drought could worsen even further in 2024, with El Niño expected to reach its maximum magnitude between December 2023 and February 2024 [[2]]. After a historic 2023 drought, Amazon communities are bracing for an even worse dry season in 2024, with low river levels and insufficient rain expected to persist [[3]].
Brazil’s worst drought in 70 years is having a devastating impact on the country, with widespread wildfires, air quality crises, and historic low river levels. The situation is expected to worsen in 2024, making it essential for the government and stakeholders to take urgent measures to mitigate the effects of this crisis.
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Brazil Faces Worst Drought in Seven Decades, Affecting 59% of the Country
Brazil is currently experiencing its worst drought in over seven decades, with a staggering 59% of the country affected, an area roughly the size of half the United States. The severe drought has led to record low levels in major rivers in the Amazon basin, devastating wildfires, and poor air quality.
According to Ana Paula Cunha, a researcher at the National Center for Monitoring and Early Warning of Natural Disasters, “This is the first time that a drought has spread from the north to the southeast of the country. It is the most intense and widespread drought in the history of Brazil.”[[[[1]]]
The drought has led to catastrophic wildfires, with the Chapada dos Veadeiros National Park, one of Brazil’s most famous tourist sites, being consumed by flames. Nayara Stacheski, the park’s director, attributed the fires to the dry season starting earlier than usual, combined with intense heat and low air humidity[[[[1]]].
The situation is dire, with Brazil recording almost 160,000 fires since the beginning of the year, the worst year since 2010. In the Pantanal, the largest wetland in the world, it has been the second worst year for fires on record[[[[1]]]. The fires are largely caused by deforestation and land clearing, with an area the size of Italy having burned in Brazil so far this year[[[[1]]].
The drought has also had a devastating impact on river levels, with the Amazon River and its main tributary, the Madeira River, at historically low levels in the city of Tabatinga. Dozens of communities have been cut off by low river levels, including Filadelfia, home to 387 families from the Tikuna tribe. The community is struggling with a shortage of clean water, leading to an increase in illness, and scarce food supplies as crops die and travel to the city becomes increasingly difficult[[[[1]]].
Myrian Tikuna, a local leader, described the situation as dire, saying, “This used to be the Amazon River. Now it’s a desert. If things get worse, our people will disappear. We are just now realizing the seriousness of climate change.”[[[[1]]]
In fact, a study published in Nature[[[[3]]]found that a marked change in the hydrologic balance in central-eastern Brazil, caused by a severe warming trend, can be identified, starting in the 1970s. This has led to a significant increase in drought events in the region.
The situation is not expected to improve anytime soon, with significant rains not expected until October. In the meantime, communities will continue to struggle with the impacts of the drought, and the Brazilian government will need to take urgent action to address the crisis.
In the Amazonas state alone, local authorities report that the drought has affected more than 600,000 people[[[[2]]]. It is imperative that the Brazilian government takes concrete steps to mitigate the effects of the drought and addresses the root causes of this environmental disaster.
The drought in Brazil is a stark reminder of the devastating impacts of climate change and the need for urgent action to address this global crisis.
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