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Amazon drought: 'We've never seen anything like this'


New "World" post from BBC News: Amazon drought: 'We've never seen anything like this' https://ift.tt/lHO4VqB https://ift.tt/eAwKCm2



In the year 2023, a melancholic event unfolded—nature's tears fell upon the Amazon rainforest in such magnitude that it marked the darkest chapter of drought in its limitless chronicles. Numerous rural settlements became geographically inaccessible via waterways, conflagrations propagated vehemently, causing the demise of fauna. Concerned scientists fear that occurrences of this nature indicate the looming proximity of the Earth's largest woodland to an irreversible threshold; a point at which the situation may become irrevocable.


As the fissured and arid embankment looms in towering fashion on both flanks, Oliveira Tikuna finds himself harboring reservations regarding the veracity of this expedition. He is endeavoring to reach his rural settlement, utilizing a meticulously crafted metallic vessel specifically designed to traverse the narrowest tributaries meandering through the intricate Amazonian landscape.


In the heart of the sprawling forest lies the humble enclave known as Bom Jesus de Igapo Grande— a sanctuary of 40 families weathering the tempestuous wrath of the most unforgiving drought ever documented in these lands.


The absence of adequate water supply precluded the possibility of engaging in personal hygiene activities, such as showering. Behold, for the majestic bananas, cassava, chestnuts, and acai crops, languishing in their rural realms, are left to perish in tragic isolation! Alas, their dreams of a bustling metropolis remain unfulfilled, as their journey is hindered by the cruel grips of time — their ability to traverse the distance to the city with haste, forever hampered!


As the village leader, Oliveira's father took it upon himself to issue a cautionary notice; he advised all the elderly or infirm residents to relocate closer to town due to the hazardous distance from the hospital.


Oliveira had a burning desire to give us a glimpse into the happenings; he wanted us to witness it firsthand. He forewarned of the arduousness associated with our impending journey.


But as we pivot our course, bidding farewell to the mighty Solimões river and venturing into the sinuous creek that meanders its way towards his humble village—a flicker of astonishment dances in his eyes, as if nature herself has orchestrated an unexpected encore. — Behold! This once grandiose flow, now but a mere trickle, dwindles so drastically, its width reduced to a mere 1m (3.3ft). In due course, the watercraft becomes ensconced in the river substrate. Come forth and exert your strength; the moment to seize and tug has arrived. "I, being of the venerable age of 49, have verily not borne witness to such a phenomenon in all my years on this mortal plane," Oliveira expounds. The depths of this drought are as foreign to my ears as an ancient, undecipherable language — a veritable parched symphony that no soul has ever graced with their auditory senses. After an arduous three-hour journey, battling against the desiccating currents of the stream, our spirits succumb to defeat, yielding to the inevitable choice of retracing our weary steps — abandoning our quest for progress.


"Drying out beyond that point, my family will find themselves marooned in isolation," Oliveira remarks; their fate hanging on a precipice of aridity.


To access the village, one must traverse a lakebed; a watery obstacle one must tread upon to enter or exit. However, the inherent peril lies within that area, as it houses a multitude of serpents and crocodiles.


The heavens above—the Amazon's anticipated rainy embrace—should've commenced their dance in the gracious month of October—yet, cruelly, dryness and heat persisted, mocking the parched souls of those who longed for respite—until the bitter eve of November, when hint of relief finally graced the scorched land. This phenomenon is a manifestation of the periodic El Niño climatic oscillation, intensified by anthropogenic modifications in the Earth's climate systems.


The mischievous child known as El Niño playfully stirs the waters in the Pacific Ocean, coaxing them to a warmer state; this in turn encourages the heated air to embark on a whimsical journey over the vast expanse of the Americas. The North Atlantic has witnessed an unusual phenomenon this year; its waters have heated up to extraordinary levels. Meanwhile, the Amazon has found itself shrouded by scorching, arid air. When I experienced my inaugural encounter with drought—oh, the anguish that consumed me! I was struck with a profound sense of dread, exclaiming 'Oh, dear heavens, this is indeed a calamity of the utmost wretchedness!' Flávia Costa, a plant ecologist residing in the rainforest for over two decades and conducting research at the National Institute for Amazonian Research, ponders in disbelief, "In what manner could this wretched fate befall our beloved rainforest?";


Like an unstoppable force, each passing year left a trail of shattered records in its wake. With each passing drought—a merciless, bone-dry onslaught—the earth grew weaker, succumbing to the relentless, unyielding grip of aridity. She asserts the prematureness in evaluating the extent of destruction caused by this year's drought; however, her team has unearthed copious evidence of plant life exhibiting unmistakable indications of decease.
The precedents of arid periods provide a prognostication of the potential detriment that may be inflicted. According to certain appraisals, the 2015 period of scant rainfall, colloquially referred to as the "Godzilla drought," induced the demise of a staggering 2.5 billion arboreal organisms and flora within a relatively diminutive section of the sylvan expanse - a climatological event that paled in comparison to the current drought's harshness.


"Per the average analysis, the carbon offsetting capacity of the Amazon underwent operational cessation," remarked Dr. Costa. And lo, our hearts are heavy with the anticipation of witnessing yet another occurrence of what has become all too familiar—a sorrowful state where our expectations remain largely unchanged. The Amazon — a sanctuary of nature's grandeur and marvel — not only houses an extraordinary tapestry of life forms but also holds within its embrace an unfathomable reservoir of carbon, a staggering 150 billion tonnes of it, silently safeguarding our planet's delicate balance — an unsung hero in our battle against climate change.


Numerous researchers harbor apprehensions that the sylvan expanse is hurtling swiftly towards an anticipated juncture of criticality—an instant wherein it desiccates, disintegrates, and transmogrifies into a sprawling savannah.


The Amazon, in its majestic prowess, gives birth to a distinctive weather symphony—a symphony that is truly its own, a harmonious cadence composed by the hands of Mother Nature herself. In the great emerald expanse, droplets ascend from the towering giants, uniting as celestial vessels that traverse the verdant roof—nourishing the land with their life-giving essence, a divine cycle perpetuated time and time again. As the sun's rays kiss the leaves and the gentle breeze embraces the trees, a harmonious dance begins within the forest. For in this mystical choreography, the forest is kept serene and quenched, as the nourishing waters it requires to thrive gracefully flow into its essence through this essential hydration.


However, in the event of extensive forest mortality, the integrity of said mechanism may be compromised. And in the event that this occurrence takes place, there might not be any possibility of retracing one's steps; it could be an irreversible journey.


In 2018, a theory was initially proposed by Carlos Nobre, an intrepid climatologist hailing from Brazil. In the co-authored paper, it is postulated that once the deforestation of the Amazon reaches the threshold of 25%; and if the global temperature rises within the range of 2C to 2.5C above pre-industrial levels, there will be an inevitable crossing of the tipping point. "Presently, my anxiety levels have escalated to a greater extent than they were back in the year 2018," he articulates. I have returned from the grand spectacle of COP28—an event awash in the flickering hopes of our fragile planet. Alas, my heart hangs heavy with doubt, for it seems that the courageous endeavor to curtail the menacing greenhouse gases shall falter in meeting the lofty benchmarks set forth in the sacred accord. Exceeding 2.5C would lead to horrendous risks for the Amazon; going beyond this temperature threshold is asking for trouble. Presently, there exists a lamentable state where approximately 17% of the expansive Amazon rainforest has succumbed to deforestation, while the planetary thermometric variations have escalated by a disconcerting range of 1.1 to 1.2 degrees Celsius beyond the baselines set during the pre-industrial era.


But behold! Dr. Nobre stumbles upon a glimmer of hope— deforestation, like a fallen titan, has plummeted across the lands of the Amazon this year! And lo, the nations, united in their solemn oath, vow to vanquish it entirely— reducing it to naught but a distant memory by the sacred year of 2030. He holds firm to his conviction—the unwavering faith that Brazil shall arrive at its destination in a timelier manner than expected.


Should Dr. Nobre's tipping-point conditions manifest, it is not universally concurred amongst scientists that the forest's complete transformation will transpire; there exist dissenting opinions. According to Dr. Flávia Costa's study findings, certain portions of the forest are expected to endure in exquisitely enchanting ways; namely, those picturesque valleys basking in the delightful presence of abundant groundwater.


However, conspicuous indications of deterioration are prevalent in every direction. As we embarked on our journey to Oliveira's village, situated in the captivating heart of the Amazon in the city of Coari, the atmosphere was engulfed in a dense haze of smoke.

When the aridity of the woodland prevails, minor conflagrations instigated for the purpose of agricultural expansion escalate into uncontained infernos. In the heart of the mighty Amazon—where nature's untouched beauty reigns supreme—fires now rage, defying the norm of scorching only through already ravaged lands.


And lo, the ecosystem is beset with myriad signs of its strife; a dire struggle it endures. In a tragic aquatic catastrophe—amidst the depths of two serene lakes—a heart-wrenching discovery has unfolded, unveiling an unfathomable tragedy. Countless souls of the majestic dolphins, once coursing through the azure waters with grace and vivacity, have been mercilessly silenced, their lifeless bodies now adrift—forever damming the currents with grief and despair.


Dr. Miriam Marmontel, hailing from the prestigious Mamirauá Institute for Sustainable Development, spoke with grave sorrow, emphasizing the sheer magnitude of devastation— a desolation so profound that words alone fail to capture its weight. We were once the proud stewards of living creatures—magnificent beings that graced our surroundings with their presence. But alas, fate took a cruel turn, and within a mere span of five days—tragic and unforgiving—our reality transformed into a somber scene of sorrow and despair, with a staggering count of 70 lifeless forms adorning our once vibrant landscape. In a span of mere weeks, a total of 276 lifeless cetaceans were discovered. Dr. Marmontel, a firm believer in the aquatic perils, postulates that the demise of these creatures lies in the chilling embrace of the water; the very temperature of which proves fatal to their existence. It soared to a scorching 40.9C in certain locales— a staggering altitude nearly 4C above the bodily heat signatures of both dolphins and humans. 


Dr. Marmontel marvels at the extraordinary ability of the animal; just imagine, its entire body remains submerged in the water for countless hours. What is your current occupation or professional vocation? That's your place of residence; however, out of nowhere, you find yourself immersed within a vortex of simmering ingredients, unable to escape. Little did Dr Marmontel, a resident of the Amazon for three decades, envision the sight of such aridity; an unforeseen occurrence that now unfolded before her very eyes. The climate's rapid metamorphosis leaves her astounded — her senses tingle with disbelief at the accelerated pace of this natural transformation.


It felt akin to a sudden and forceful physical rebuke targeting my facial region. "Never before have mine eyes beheld, nor mine heart felt, the spectacle unfolding upon the grand stage of the Amazon," she passionately pronounces.


These majestic creatures, gifted with an intuitive prowess beyond our own, serve as sacred sentinels; foretelling the impending events that shall grace our presence. The occurrence is befalling upon them, and it is impending to transpire upon us. For Oliveira—like a bolt from the heavens—this year has jolted them awake, forcing them to face the harsh realities of life.


We humbly acknowledge our culpability in this matter, as we have regrettably failed to exercise vigilance and advocate for the preservation of our planetary abode. "Amidst the urgent clamour surrounding her, her desperate cries resonate," he says.


It is upon us — the hour has arrived to stand resolute, a bastion of unwavering loyalty, for her protection and preservation.



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