Last year’s record drought in the Amazon, paired with lower-than-usual rainfall, has caused a rapid decline in river water levels, disrupting barge navigation that transports grains for export and isolating communities dependent on river transport.
The Brazilian Geological Service (SGB) has noted that water levels have been falling since June, and rivers across the Amazon basin are projected to drop below historical averages. In Manaus, for instance, the Rio Negro River currently stands at 21 meters, compared to 24 meters this time last year, sparking concern among industries in the Free Trade Zone. Businesses there are urging the government to begin dredging operations to avoid the transport issues experienced last year.
Dredging has already begun at critical sections of the Madeira River, where only low-draft vessels are able to pass. The government’s Department of Transport Infrastructure (DNIT) has contracted additional dredging work for the Amazon and Solimões rivers, aiming to keep major shipping lanes operational.
Consultancy firm ARGUS warns that, like last year, barge traffic could be further limited this season, with an even grimmer forecast for ports along the Amazon River. As a result, grain and fertilizer shipments may need to be rerouted to ports in southern and southeastern Brazil, likely leading to increased shipping costs for producers.
In Porto Velho, Rondonia state, the Madeira River has remained below two meters since July, far below its typical 5.3-meter depth. This decline affects not only transportation but also the operations of two hydroelectric dams, Jirau and Santo Antonio, on one of northern Brazil’s key waterways.
The situation is especially dire for communities in the Amazon, many of which are becoming isolated as river navigation becomes impossible. Residents are unable to travel for essential goods, while crops and fish stocks, crucial for their livelihoods, are suffering. Climatologist José Marengo explained that in typical droughts, there’s still enough water for small boats to move supplies, but this year, rivers have dried up to the point of cutting off entire communities.
Initially, more rainfall had been expected in the second half of the year, thanks to the La Niña phenomenon, which cools the Pacific waters and usually brings more humidity to northern Brazil. However, the cooling hasn’t occurred as predicted, exacerbating the effects of last year’s drought.
Marengo, a research coordinator at the National Center for Natural Disaster Monitoring and Alerts (Cemaden), added that the lack of rain in the Amazon will also impact southern Brazil. The so-called “flying rivers”—airborne currents of moisture carried from the rainforest to other regions—are being severely diminished, which could have far-reaching consequences for the climate and agriculture in Brazil’s southern regions.
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