Near-record flooding in the Amazon

SHARE:

Near-record flooding in the Amazon
mongabay.com
May 13, 2009

Near-record flooding has displaced thousands of people in the Brazilian Amazon, reports the Associated Press.

Water levels at a measuring station on the Rio Negro in Manaus, the Amazon's largest city, stood just 74 centimeters (29 inches) below a record set in 1953. The flooding comes just five years after a severe drought that stranded river boats, isolated communities, and contributed to massive forest fires. Drought is currently affecting southern Brazil, reducing hydroelectric production and threatening agriculture.

Speaking on his weekly radio program Monday, Brazilian President Luiz Inacio Lula da Silva said climate change could be responsible for the severe weather swings.

"Some things are changing in the world and we need to start looking at them with more attention," he was quoted as saying by the Associated Press.

Lula recently committed Brazil to reducing its deforestation rate 70 percent by 2018 from a 1996-2005 baseline in an effort to cut greenhouse gas emissions. Globally deforestation accounts for roughly 18 percent of emissions, a share larger than all the world's cars, trucks, ships, and planes.

SHARE THIS ARTICLE:

Tags:
flooding disasters amazon Amazon river rivers green away environment brazil south america impact of climate change latin america rainforests

CITATION:
mongabay.com (May 13, 2009). Near-record flooding in the Amazon. http://news.mongabay.com/2009/0513-amazon.html

News index | RSS | News Feed | Twitter | Home

Advertisements:

Organic Apparel from Patagonia | Insect-repelling clothing

Mongabay Store
Wildlife of Madagascar T-shirt		Bold and Dangerous - Pygmy tyrant
Love me before I'm gone - Gladiator frog		Licking this frog may make you crazy

MONGABAY.COM
Mongabay.com seeks to raise interest in and appreciation of wild lands and wildlife, while examining the impact of emerging trends in climate, technology, economics, and finance on conservation and development (more)

CONTENTS

Rainforests
Tropical Fish
News
Madagascar
Pictures
Kids' Site
Languages
TCS Journal
About
Archives
Topics | RSS
Newsletter

WEEKLY NEWSLETTER

Climate Change Communicator of the Year 2010

Mongabay has been nominated for Climate Change Communicator of the Year 2010 by George Mason University's Center for Climate Change Communication. Balloting runs through February 15. Be sure to vote!

INTERACT

Facebook
Contact

Twitter
Advertise

Photo Store
Help

SUPPORT
Help support mongabay.com when you buy from Amazon.com