In 2023, severe drought conditions heated lakes in the Amazon to unprecedented levels, with Brazil’s Lake Tefe reaching 41.0°C (105.8°F). This extreme heat resulted in the deaths of over 200 dolphins and numerous fish and aquatic animals, highlighting a crisis believed to be linked to climate change. Ayan Fleischmann, a hydrologist investigating the phenomenon, noted a combination of factors causing this disaster, including low wind speeds, shallow waters, prolonged high solar radiation, and water conditions that intensified heat absorption.
Research indicated that temperatures exceeded 37 degrees Celsius in half of the 10 lakes studied, with spasmodic temperature fluctuations causing stress to wildlife. In just a week, 10% of the local dolphin population declined, including endangered species like pink river dolphins and black-bellied dolphins. Approximately 330 dolphin carcasses were discovered around the lake.
Biologists explained that temperatures of 41 degrees Celsius impeded fish metabolism, leading to widespread deaths. The Amazon rainforest, a critical reservoir of Earth’s fresh water and a biodiverse habitat, is deteriorating due to rising temperatures—now averaging 0.6 degrees Celsius increase per decade.
Scientists warn that the Amazon is nearing collapse. Addressing these climate issues requires a comprehensive global strategy to reduce fossil fuel reliance, as local solutions alone are insufficient. The study detailing these findings was published in the journal Science.
