InterRegional for Strategic Analysis

<p>Panama Canal has experienced an unprecedented drought as a result of El Niño, an extreme weather event that increases the temperature of the Pacific Ocean. This has caused water levels to drop in Gatún Lake, which feeds into the Panama Canal. There was also a 41 percent decrease in rainfall. This drought has created upheaval for navigation routes as well as a traffic jam in the canal. Ports in Panama, Nicaragua, Peru, and El Salvador have been affected by the phenomenon and saw traffic drop by 10-25 percent. Navigation plans and routes have been modified to reduce the number of ships in the Panama Canal through February 2024. The following infographic illustrates key shifts affecting navigation in the Panama Canal due to El Niño. A PDF version of the infographic can be viewed <a href="https://dd8tm5zo9pl5p.cloudfront.net/media/link-1701850986900.pdf" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">here</a>.</p><p><img src="https://dd8tm5zo9pl5p.cloudfront.net/articles/article11701799156023.jpeg"></p>

How Does Climate Change Affect Navigation Traffic in the Panama Canal?