New Study Discovers Causes For Increased Flooding In The Amazon
New Study Discovers Causes For Increased Flooding In The Amazon
Data survey shows that flooding is now five times more common in the region than in the 20th century
Sep.20.2018 11:21AM
Reinaldo José Lopes
Long episodes of draught have been tormenting people in the Amazon in the last few decades. But a new study published in the journal Science Advances uses data from the late 20th century to show that the frequency of flooding has been frightening increasing since then - with a likely link between the phenomenon and the global climate change.
To be precise, floods in the Amazon are now five times more common now. Instead of happening once every 20 years, as it was the case until the first half of last century. But since the early 2000s, they have been happening once every four years. And the floods are now also more severe -- the ones from 2009 and 2012 have no historical precedent, for example.
The team used information on water levels of the Rio Negro, in Manaus, that were gathered daily between 1903 and 2015, and of the Amazon River, in Óbidos (PA), between 1970 and 2015, as well as rainfall indexes and atmospheric surveys.
Researchers found a high correlation between the water levels in both places throughout the studied period. In general, when Manaus floods, the same happens in Óbidos.
More:
https://www1.folha.uol.com.br/internacional/en/scienceandhealth/2018/09/new-study-discovers-causes-for-increased-flooding-in-the-amazon.shtml
Environment & Energy:
https://www.democraticunderground.com/1127119920
