Extreme warming of Amazon waters in a changing climate

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Abstract
In 2023, an unprecedented drought and heat wave severely affected Amazon waters, leading to high mortality of fishes and river dolphins. Five of 10 lakes monitored had exceptionally high daytime water temperatures (over 37°C), with one large lake reaching up to 41°C in the entire approximately 2-meter-deep water column and up to 13°C of diel variation. Modeling showed that high solar radiation, reduced water depth and wind speed, and turbid waters were the main drivers of the high temperatures. This extreme heating of Amazon waters follows a long-term increase of 0.6°C/decade revealed by satellite estimates across the region’s lakes between 1990 and 2023. With ongoing climate change, temperatures that approach or exceed thermal tolerances for aquatic life are likely to become more common in tropical aquatic systems.
Funding Information
  • National Science Foundation (1753856)
  • Gordon and Betty Moore Foundation (“Advancing the understanding of methane emissions from tropical wetlands”)
  • Agência Nacional de Águas (02500.047353/2023-62)
  • Fundação de Amparo à Pesquisa do Estado do Amazonas (EDITAL N.º 006/2022 (Project “Mudanças climáticas e recursos hídricos nas várzeas do Solimões”))
  • Conselho Nacional de Desenvolvimento Científico e Tecnológico (PCI/IDSM)
  • Centre National d’Etudes Spatiales (“SWOT for SOUTH AMERICA” and “SAMBA”)
  • Royal Society (ISPF ICAO\R1\241102)
  • National Science Foundation CNH2 (“CNH2-L project”)
  • French National Research Institute for Sustainable Development JEAI AMAWE (JEAI/AMAWE)

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