Amazon climate extremes accelerate in unexpected region, study finds
New research indicates rapid increases in temperature and water stress are affecting areas far from deforestation.
AI-assisted coverage comparison, editor-supervised · How this was made
image: Tiaracá stream in Jaú National Park (Amazonas state, Brazil) in September 2024 during the extreme drought. Travel along the stream was only possible by paddling, with water levels too low for the outboard motor view more Credit: Cássio Alencar Nunes
Photograph: Eurek Alert (embedded from source)
What this story says
- The central north Amazon region is experiencing a rapid increase in climate extremes, such as extreme temperatures and water stress, according to a new study.
- Extreme temperatures in the Amazon have risen by at least 0.75°C per decade and over 3.22°C since 1981, with average temperatures increasing by 0.21°C per decade.
- These rapid changes in climate extremes are occurring in areas far from deforestation, suggesting they are driven by global climate change rather than local factors.
- The study, led by Lancaster University in partnership with WWF UK and over 50 scientists, warns that these accelerating extremes could push the Amazon past critical thresholds.
Who covered it
Percentages are shares of the 3 outlets carrying a published leaning rating. 6 of the 9 outlets we know ran this story carry no rating and are not counted in them. Coverage measured .
Trust
60/100
Craft
65/100
Hype
45/100
9 sources · methodology
The central north Amazon region, previously not considered highly vulnerable to climate change, is now at the forefront of escalating climate extremes. A new study reveals rapid growth in extreme temperatures and water stress across this area, which encompasses significant high forest cover, natural savannas, and indigenous territories.
Findings published in Communications Earth & Environment indicate that 10% of the Amazon basin, an area larger than Afghanistan, has seen extreme dry-season temperatures increase by at least 0.75°C per decade and by more than 3.22°C since 1981. While average Amazon temperatures are rising in line with global averages at 0.21°C per decade, the rate of change in extreme events is significantly higher. Researchers attribute these rapid rises in areas distant from deforestation to global climate change, stating that local factors cannot explain the observed trends.
The study was led by researchers at Lancaster University, in partnership with WWF UK and an international team of over 50 scientists. They analysed temperature and rainfall data from 1981 to 2023, using a high-resolution approach that divided the Amazon into 11km cells. This method allowed for the assessment of both average temperature changes and, crucially, changes in extreme temperature periods.
Scientists involved in the research expressed concern that continued rapid increases in extreme climate events could risk pushing the Amazon past critical thresholds. The study highlights that climate extremes are responsible for some of the most damaging climate-linked impacts, including increased mortality, forest fires, and damage to ecosystems and human health. The potential for a severe El Niño event in 2026 adds to these concerns, with fears of extremely high temperatures and droughts following the 2024 drought.
Coverage comparison
The centre-rated reports focused on the study's findings regarding the acceleration of climate extremes in the Amazon, particularly in the central north region. They highlighted the study's attribution of these changes to global climate change, noting that the affected areas are far from deforestation zones. The potential for future extreme weather events, such as a strong El Niño, and the risk of the Amazon reaching critical tipping points were also emphasised.
What the coverage left out
None of the centre-rated reports mention the specific figure of 700,000 square kilometres used to describe the area experiencing increased extreme temperatures. The digests also did not include direct quotes from the scientists involved in the study.
Still developing. We have re-checked which outlets are covering this 3 times, most recently on 9 Sept 2026, 14:45, and will add the sides that appear.
How each side covered it
Our own reading of the reporting listed below, written from the outlets’ articles rather than quoted from them. The reasoning is set out on our methodology page.
Left
0 rated outlets
No outlet rated left has run this story so far. We are still checking, and will say plainly if that does not change.
Centre
3 rated outlets
- The central north Amazon is experiencing the most rapid growth in climate extremes, according to Eurek Alert. This region, previously not considered highly affected, is seeing increases in dry season extreme temperatures of at least 0.75°C a decade. The study found these changes are not apparent in average temperature assessments.
- Eurek Alert reported that climate extremes in the Amazon have worsened over the last 43 years. The study, led by Lancaster University, used high-resolution data to model temperature and water stress across the biome. Scientists fear rapid increases could push the Amazon past critical thresholds.
- Bloomberg noted that the Amazon experienced a severe drought during the last El Niño, making it more vulnerable to a repeat. New Scientist warned that the current El Niño phase could be the most damaging on record, raising the risk of catastrophic wildfires.
Right
0 rated outlets
No outlet rated right has run this story so far. We are still checking, and will say plainly if that does not change.
Questions about this coverage
- How did the left and right cover Amazon climate extremes accelerate in unexpected region, study finds?
- Of the 3 outlets on this story carrying a published leaning rating, 0% are rated left, 100% are rated centre, 0% are rated right. Those percentages are shares of the rated outlets, not of every outlet that ran it, which was 9. The sections above set out what each side emphasised, in its own terms.
- Is Amazon climate extremes accelerate in unexpected region, study finds left or right?
- Too few of the outlets on this story carry a published leaning rating to say. 3 of them do, and this site does not characterise a field under 12: at that size one newsroom filing moves the share by ten points. The percentages above are the count as it stands.
- Is the coverage of Amazon climate extremes accelerate in unexpected region, study finds biased?
- Amazon climate extremes accelerate in unexpected region, study finds is one event reported by 9 outlets, and this page does not rate the story as biased or unbiased. What it publishes is the spread: which outlets ran it, where named rating organisations place each of them on the spectrum, and what each side chose to lead with. A leaning rating describes an outlet's record over time, not this article, and the two should not be run together.
- Which outlets covered Amazon climate extremes accelerate in unexpected region, study finds?
- 9 that we know of, every one of them listed further up this page with a link to its own report and to what we hold on the publisher. Nothing here is a summary of somebody else's summary: the outlets are named so the original reporting can be read.
- What is happening in the central north Amazon region?
- The central north Amazon region is experiencing a rapid increase in climate extremes, including extreme temperatures and water stress. This unexpected development is detailed in a new study involving over 50 scientists.
- How much have temperatures increased in the Amazon?
- Extreme temperatures in the Amazon have increased by at least 0.75°C a decade and more than 3.22°C since 1981. Average Amazon temperatures are rising at 0.21°C a decade, which is in line with global averages.
- What is causing these rapid climate changes in the Amazon?
- Researchers attribute the rapid rises in extreme temperatures, particularly in regions far from deforestation, to global climate change. Local factors like deforestation cannot explain these observed trends, indicating the influence of worldwide emissions.
- What are the potential consequences of these climate extremes?
- Scientists fear that if these rapid increases in extreme climate events continue, they could risk pushing the Amazon past critical thresholds. These extremes are linked to increased mortality, forest fires, and damage to ecosystems and human health.
Read it at the source
9 outlets, grouped by the leaning a published rating gives them. Every headline links to the original; an underlined outlet name opens our profile of that publisher.
Left
0No outlet in this group ran the story.
Centre
3- As El Niño looms, study finds rapid growth in climate extremes are hitting an unexpected region of the Amazon hardest (opens Eurek Alert in a new tab)
Eurek Alert — is Eurek Alert biased? Our profile of this outlet
- Strong El Niño Raises Drought Risk for Depleted Amazon Basin (opens Bloomberg in a new tab)
- Super El Niño set to cause 'terribly dangerous' drought in the Amazon (opens NewScientist in a new tab)
NewScientist — is NewScientist biased? Our profile of this outlet
Right
0No outlet in this group ran the story.
Not rated
6- Climate extremes accelerating in Amazon (opens wwf.org.uk in a new tab)
wwf.org.uk
- As El Niño looms, study finds rapid growth in climate extremes are hitting an unexpected region of the Amazon hardest - Lancaster University (opens lancaster.ac.uk in a new tab)
lancaster.ac.uk — is lancaster.ac.uk biased? Our profile of this outlet
- As El Niño looms, study finds rapid growth in climate extremes are hitting an unexpected region of the Amazon hardest (opens SEI in a new tab)
SEI
- WWF warns areas of Amazon rainforest face 'tipping point' risk as climate extremes accelerate (opens http://www.businessgreen.com in a new tab)
http://www.businessgreen.com
- The Amazon must brace for a “Godzilla” El Niño (opens sumauma.com in a new tab)
sumauma.com
- MAAP #248: Implications of upcoming major El Niño event on Amazon fires (opens maapprogram.org in a new tab)
maapprogram.org
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