The Amazon basin's major rivers have reached unprecedented low levels during the 2023-2024 drought, shattering previous records and transforming the landscape. The Madeira River, which contributes about 15% of the Amazon Basin's water, dropped to just 48 centimeters at Porto Velho, far below its average of 3.32 meters1. Other major tributaries have experienced similar dramatic declines:

• The Solimões River reached its lowest recorded level in Tabatinga, with parts completely drying up in some areas12.

• The Purus River fell more than 2 meters below its previous historic low from 19832.

• The Amazon River itself measured 4.7 meters in Itacoatiara, 3.3 meters lower than the previous record set in 20172.

These extreme low water levels have exposed vast sandbanks, disrupted river transportation, and isolated communities that rely on waterways for essential goods and services23. The situation is expected to worsen, with experts predicting more records to be broken as the dry season typically extends through November12.

Climate change has emerged as the primary driver of the exceptional drought in the Amazon River basin, overshadowing the influence of El Niño. A study by World Weather Attribution found that human-induced global warming made the 2023 drought 30 times more likely to occur1. While El Niño reduced precipitation in the region, the severity of the drought was largely attributed to increased global temperatures1. The combination of climate change, deforestation, and wildfires has created a dangerous feedback loop, exacerbating drought conditions:

• Rising temperatures increase evaporation and soil drying, intensifying water stress2.

• Deforestation reduces the forest's ability to recycle moisture through evapotranspiration, directly impacting rainfall patterns3.

• Wildfires, often linked to land clearing practices, release smoke that affects rain formation and further degrades the forest4.

These factors are pushing the Amazon closer to a potential tipping point, where vast portions of the rainforest could collapse into savannah-like ecosystems, with devastating global consequences4.

The severe drought has devastated local communities and wildlife across the Amazon basin. Indigenous peoples are struggling to access clean water and food sources, with some forced to walk long distances along dried riverbeds to dig for water1. Transportation disruptions have isolated many communities, cutting them off from essential supplies and medical assistance1. Wildlife has been severely impacted, with over 200 freshwater dolphins perishing in Lake Tefe last year, which has now completely dried up2. The drought has also led to widespread fish deaths and disrupted traditional hunting grounds3. Hydropower disruptions have caused electricity blackouts in affected regions, while some urban areas have implemented water rationing measures4. The crisis has highlighted the vulnerability of both human and animal populations to extreme climate events in the Amazon.

Climate models project a grim future for the Amazon basin if greenhouse gas emissions continue to rise at current rates. By the time global warming reaches 2°C above pre-industrial levels, agricultural droughts as severe as the 2023 event could occur every 10-15 years, a fourfold increase in frequency1. This intensification of drought cycles poses a significant threat to the Amazon's resilience:

• More frequent extreme droughts could push the rainforest closer to a tipping point, potentially triggering a rapid transition to savanna-like ecosystems2.

• Increased water stress and longer dry seasons may lead to widespread tree mortality and reduced forest regeneration3.

• The combination of more intense droughts and continued deforestation could severely disrupt the Amazon's crucial role in global climate regulation and biodiversity conservation4.

These projections underscore the urgent need for aggressive climate action and improved water management strategies to protect the Amazon's future1.