Extreme warming of Amazon waters in a changing climate
In 2023, an unprecedented drought and heat wave severely affected Amazon waters, leading to high mortality of fishes and river dolphins. Five of 10 lakes monitored had exceptionally high daytime water temperatures (over 37°C), with one large lake reaching up to 41°C in the entire approximately 2-meter-deep water column and up to 13°C of diel variation. Modeling showed that high solar radiation, reduced water depth and wind speed, and turbid waters were the main drivers of the high temperatures. This extreme heating of Amazon waters follows a long-term increase of 0.6°C/decade revealed by satellite estimates across the region's lakes between 1990 and 2023. With ongoing climate change, temperatures that approach or exceed thermal tolerances for aquatic life are likely to become more common in tropical aquatic systems.
Authors
- Bruna Mendel (ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0001-5388-7926)
- Priscila C. Alves (ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0002-8202-3358)
- Michel Nasser Corrêa Lima Chamy (ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0003-3528-2717)
- Maria Cecília Rosinski Lima Gomes (ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0003-0108-0148)
- André Coelho (ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0002-8990-2005)
- Bruno Comini de Andrade (ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0001-9371-4624)
- Adalberto Luís Val (ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0002-3823-3868)
- Waleska Gravena (ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0002-1102-971X)
- Walter Collischonn (ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0002-7630-396X)
- Wencai Zhou (ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0002-9929-8702)
- José Reinaldo Pacheco Peleja (ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0002-9084-3938)
- Hilda Chávez-Pérez (ORCID: https://orcid.org/0009-0004-5454-0181)
- Maiby Glorize da Silva Bandeira (ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0002-0534-2611)
- Daniel Medeiros Moreira (ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0002-8915-094X)
- Mariana Paschoalini (ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0002-4748-3236)
- Leonardo Laipelt (ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0002-5735-4809)
- André Zumak (ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0003-4000-4527)
- Rogério Ribeiro Marinho (ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0001-5219-8635)
- Fabrice Papa (ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0001-6305-6253)
- Renan Gomes do Nascimento (ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0002-0818-0347)
- Bruce R. Forsberg (ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0001-7606-0585)
- Ayan Santos Fleischmann (ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0002-8547-4736)
- Leandro Guedes Santos
- Anderson Ruhoff (ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0002-3585-2022)
- Sally MacIntyre (ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0003-3644-7237)
- Stephen K. Hamilton (ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0002-4702-9017)
- Miriam Marmontel (ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0003-3747-9548)
- John M. Mélack (ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0003-0619-841X)
- Paula dos Santos Silva (ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0003-3545-2843)
- Naziano Filizola (ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0001-7285-7220)
- Renata Duarte Alquezar (ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0001-8294-722X)
- Júlia Brusso Rossi (ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0003-1458-9197)
- Lady L. M. Custódio (ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0001-9559-0805)
- Susana Braz‐Mota (ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0002-5594-5963)
- Ednaldo Bras Severo (ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0002-9148-5570)
- Rodrigo Xavier (ORCID: https://orcid.org/0009-0004-5957-8250)
- Eduardo G. Martins (ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0003-3500-9331)
- Débora Hymans (ORCID: https://orcid.org/0009-0004-1829-979X)
- Isabela Keppe
- Lucas Lauretto (ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0002-6262-6813)
- Camila Vieira (ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0003-0154-2728)
- Raize Mendes
Institutions
- Centre National de la Recherche Scientifique (FR)
- Universidade Federal do Rio Grande do Sul (BR)
- Universidade Federal do Oeste do Pará (BR)
- Université Toulouse III - Paul Sabatier (FR)
- Universidade de Brasília (BR)
- University of Northern British Columbia (CA)
- University of California, Santa Barbara (US)
- Instituto Nacional de Pesquisas da Amazônia (BR)
- Cary Institute of Ecosystem Studies (US)
- Prefeitura do Município de São Paulo (BR)
- Laboratoire d’Études en Géophysique et Océanographie Spatiales (FR)
- Museu da Amazonia (BR)
- Instituto de Desenvolvimento Sustentável Mamirauá (BR)
- Serviço Geológico do Brasil - CPRM (BR)
- Institut de Recherche pour le Développement (FR)
- Universidade Federal do Amazonas (BR)
Publication Details
- Journal
- Science
- Published
- 2025-11-06
- DOI
- https://doi.org/10.1126/science.adr4029
- Citations
- 5
- Primary Topic
- Fish biology, ecology, and behavior
- Type
- article
- Field-Weighted Citation Impact
- 11.57