Monitoring suspended sediments through remote sensing data in black-water rivers is a challenge. Herein, remote sensing reflectance (R_rs) from in situ measurements and Sentinel-2 Multi-Spectral Instrument (MSI) images were used to estimate the suspended sediment concentration (SSC) in the largest black-water river of the Amazon basin. The Negro River exhibits extremely low R_rs values ( 7 m⁻¹) caused by the high amount of dissolved organic carbon (DOC > 7 mg L⁻¹) and low SSC (<5 mg L⁻¹). Interannual variability of R_rs is primarily controlled by the input of suspended sediments from the Branco River, which is a clear water river that governs the changes in the apparent optical properties of the Negro River, even at distances that are greater than 90 km from its mouth. Better results were obtained using the Sentinel-2 MSI Red band (Band 4 at 665 nm) in order to estimate the SSC, with an R² value greater than 0.85 and an error less than 20% in the adjusted models. The magnitudes of water reflectance in the Sentinel-2 MSI Red band were consistent with in situ R_rs measurements, indicating the large spatial variability of the lower SSC values (0 to 15 mg L⁻¹) in a complex anabranching reach of the Negro River. The in situ and satellite data analysed in this study indicates sedimentation processes in the lower Negro River near the Amazon River. The results suggest that the radiometric characteristics of sensors, like sentinel-2 MSI, are suitable for monitoring the suspended sediment concentration in large tropical black-water rivers.

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.

This article analyzes the flows of water and total suspended sediment in different reaches in the lower course of the Negro River, the largest fluvial blackwater system in the world. The area under study is the Anavilhanas Archipelago, which is a complex multichannel reach on the Negro River. Between the years 2016 and 2019, data about water discharge, velocity, and concentration of total suspended solids (TSS) were acquired in sample sections of the Negro River channels located upstream, inside, and downstream of the Anavilhanas Archipelago. In the study area, the Negro River drains an area greater than 700,000 km², and the mean water discharge observed before the Anavilhanas was about 28.655 m³·s⁻¹, of which 97% flows through two channels of the Archipelago close to the right and left banks. The mean TSS concentration of the Negro River upstream and downstream the Archipelago was 3.28 mg·L⁻¹ and 1.63 mg·L⁻¹, respectively. Within the Archipelago, we observed more TSS in the channel on the left bank of the Negro River (mean of 4.50 mg·L⁻¹). The total suspended sediment discharge of the Negro River before (3.14 Mt·year⁻¹) and after (1.43 Mt·year⁻¹) the Anavilhanas Archipelago indicates a 55% retention of the suspended load due to the low water slope and reduced flow velocity caused by the backwater effect of Solimões River on the Negro River. The hydro-sedimentary scenario of the low course of the Negro River characterized in this study indicates a slow and continuous sedimentation process in the Anavilhanas Archipelago. The results presented will serve as a baseline to assess the impacts of the dams on the Branco River, the main tributary for both water and sediment in the Negro River basin.

Dissolved organic matter (DOM) is a crucial component of continental aquatic ecosystems. It plays a vital role in the carbon cycle by serving as a significant source and reservoir of carbon in water. DOM provides energy and nutrients to organisms, affecting primary productivity, organic composition, and the food chain. This study presents empirical bio-optical models for estimating the absorption of colored dissolved organic matter (aCDOM) in the Negro River using in situ remote sensing reflectance (Rrs) data. Physical–chemical data (TSS, DOC, and POC) and optical data (aCDOM and Rrs) were collected from the Negro River, its tributaries, and lakes and empirical relationships between aCDOM at 440 nm, single band, and the ratio bands of Rrs were assessed. The analysis of spectral slope shows no statistically significant correlations with DOC concentration or aCDOM absorption coefficient. However, strong relationships were observed between DOC and aCDOM (R² = 0.72), aCDOM and Rrs at 650 nm (R² > 0.80 and RMSE < 1.75 m⁻¹), as well as aCDOM and the green/red band ratio (R² > 0.80 and RMSE < 2.30 m⁻¹). aCDOM displayed large spatial and temporal variations, varying from 1.9 up to 20.1 m⁻¹, with higher values in rivers of the upper course of the Negro basin and lower values in rivers with total solids suspended > 10 mg·L⁻¹. Environmental factors that influence the production of dissolved organic matter include soil type, dense forest cover, high precipitation, and low erosion rates. This study demonstrated that aCDOM can serve as an indicator of DOC, and Rrs can serve as an indicator of aCDOM in the Negro basin. Our findings offer a starting point for future research on the optical properties of Amazonian black-water rivers.