Record drought could keep Amazon dry through 2026
A record-breaking drought has sapped the Amazon River and four of its biggest tributaries to their lowest levels in at least half a century, as scientists anticipate the next year could bring an even more intense drought. - REUTERS
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00:00 From killing hundreds of endangered river dolphins to threatening the livelihoods of
00:06 millions of people, this is the impact of the Amazon Rainforest's historic drought.
00:13 It's sapped the Amazon River and four of its biggest tributaries to their lowest level
00:18 in at least half a century.
00:20 And the worst may be yet to come.
00:25 Experts are predicting an even more intense drought next year due to extreme ocean temperatures
00:30 worsened by global warming.
00:32 MARIA MAURICIO, Amazon Rainforest (through translator): What is expected is that, next
00:37 year, there will still be a drought due to this year's low water levels.
00:41 And that happens because the water reserve will be compromised, and also because of this
00:45 year's drought.
00:46 AMNA NAWAZ: Amazonas, which has been hit hardest by the drought, declared a public emergency
00:51 in September.
00:52 The state has delivered drinking water and food staples via aircraft and smaller boats.
00:58 Helicopters are working overtime to airlift the sick.
01:01 Meanwhile, thousands of students are enrolled in online classes because they can no longer
01:06 get to school.
01:08 The federal government has pledged millions of dollars towards relief efforts.
01:12 The human side is the one that suffers these consequences the most.
01:18 Nine scientists interviewed by Reuters said the effects of the drought will only begin
01:22 to recede with the onset of the rainy season in late 2024.
01:27 Five of those scientists didn't expect the Amazon to recover before 2026.
01:33 They expect it will take two healthy rainy seasons to restore normal soil moisture in
01:38 the rainforest.
01:40 But even that could change, based on El Niño, the naturally occurring phenomenon roils global
01:45 weather every two to seven years.
01:48 As it warms waters off the Pacific coast of South America, it pulls rains in that direction,
01:53 depressing precipitation in the Amazon.
01:56 The current El Niño is estimated to last until mid-2024.
02:00 2024.
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