Panama Canal is an ironic warning of how environmentally innocent we were when engineers began building it in 1904. Artificial lakes provide fresh water to raise the level of the locks. When they lower the level again that water flows down to the ocean. But nowadays droughts are threatening the lakes. Could Panama Canal run out of water from warming some day?
Yes, Panama Canal Might Run Dry From Global Warming
A prolonged drought, and evaporation could theoretically cause the lakes to dry up. These also provide water to Panama City, by the way. Some 37 ships pass through the locks every day. Each ship ‘costs’ over 2 billion gallons of fresh water. The canal authority had to cap maritime cargo-weight during the 2019 drought, to stop shipping scraping the bottom of the canal.
But extreme weather also takes its toll in terms of floods. The artificial lakes could overflow, or parts of the canal flood from tidal surges. Therefore, the canal authority needs to find viable new sources of water, and upgrade its emergency plan to allow for more extreme weather events.
Panama Canal has become an essential facility for global shipping. It remains a remarkable feat of engineering, lifting giant ships up to 85 feet above sea level, before lowering them down again further on their journey.
What Options Are There to Save Panama Canal?
One thing we do know is climate change is likely to get worse, before we hope it starts to back off again. We understand the canal authority is considering deepening the artificial lakes, or building a new dam in the heartland of the country. But the proposed site would displace thousands of small farmers, and destroy the natural environment.
Panama Canal was conceived, constructed, and has functioned well within a particular set of climate conditions. We could say something akin to that for humanity too. Both now face a similar challenge to adapt. Will both depend on human ingenuity in order to survive?
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