Dynamics of the Pantanal Wetland in South America

Abstract

The South America Pantanal is a large floodplain wetland in the center of the Upper Paraguay River Basin, which has a total area of around 360,000 km2. Large sectors of the Pantanal floodplain are submerged from 4 to 8 months each year by water depths from a few centimeters to more than 2 m. Changes in rainfall and temperature and also on land use can affect significantly the flood season with severe consequences for downstream inhabitants. However, impact of climate change on wetlands is small so far compared to the damage caused by the lack of management at the local level due to land-use change. In this chapter we assess climate and hydrology variability for the present and projections of climate change using the global climate models from the Fifth Assessment Report (AR5) from the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC). Projections show that by the end of the century, temperatures can increase up to 7°C and rainfall can decrease in both summer and particularly winter. The possibility of longer dry spells and increased evaporation may affect the water balance in the region. However, uncertainties on climate projections are still high, particular for rainfall.