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    Dead Zone Mexico

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    One of the largest dead zones, or hypoxic zones with very low oxygen levels, forms each spring in the Gulf of Mexico. While hypoxic zones can occur naturally, the primary cause of the Gulf of Mexico dead zone is excess nutrients like nitrogen and phosphorus from farm and urban runoff that stimulate large algal blooms. In 2015, the Gulf of Mexico dead zone measured over 6,474 square miles, above the recent five-year average of around 5,500 square miles, likely due to heavy rains carrying nutrients into the Gulf waters.

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    Dead Zone Mexico

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    api-294117103
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    One of the largest dead zones, or hypoxic zones with very low oxygen levels, forms each spring in the Gulf of Mexico. While hypoxic zones can occur naturally, the primary cause of the Gulf of Mexico dead zone is excess nutrients like nitrogen and phosphorus from farm and urban runoff that stimulate large algal blooms. In 2015, the Gulf of Mexico dead zone measured over 6,474 square miles, above the recent five-year average of around 5,500 square miles, likely due to heavy rains carrying nutrients into the Gulf waters.

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    One of the largest dead zones, or hypoxic zones with very low oxygen levels, forms each spring in the Gulf of Mexico. While hypoxic zones can occur naturally, the primary cause of the Gulf of Mexico dead zone is excess nutrients like nitrogen and phosphorus from farm and urban runoff that stimulate large algal blooms. In 2015, the Gulf of Mexico dead zone measured over 6,474 square miles, above the recent five-year average of around 5,500 square miles, likely due to heavy rains carrying nutrients into the Gulf waters.

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    19 views2 pages

    Dead Zone Mexico

    Uploaded by

    api-294117103
    One of the largest dead zones, or hypoxic zones with very low oxygen levels, forms each spring in the Gulf of Mexico. While hypoxic zones can occur naturally, the primary cause of the Gulf of Mexico dead zone is excess nutrients like nitrogen and phosphorus from farm and urban runoff that stimulate large algal blooms. In 2015, the Gulf of Mexico dead zone measured over 6,474 square miles, above the recent five-year average of around 5,500 square miles, likely due to heavy rains carrying nutrients into the Gulf waters.

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    © All Rights Reserved
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    of 2

    Napak A.

    11E

    Dead Zone in Gulf of Mexico


    What is a Dead zone ?"Dead zone" is a more common term
    for hypoxia, which refers to a reduced level of oxygen in the
    water. Hypoxic zones are areas in the ocean of such low oxygen
    concentration that animal life suffocates and dies, and as a result
    are sometimes called "dead zones." One of the largest dead zones
    forms in the Gulf of Mexico every spring.
    Hypoxic zones can occur naturally, but scientists are concerned about the
    areas created or enhanced by human activity. There are many physical,
    chemical, and biological factors that combine to create dead zones, but
    nutrient pollution is the primary cause of those zones created by humans.
    Excess nutrients that run off land or are piped as wastewater into rivers and
    coasts can stimulate an overgrowth of algae, which then sinks and
    decomposes in the water. The decomposition process consumes oxygen
    and depletes the supply available to healthy marine life.
    Dead zones occur in many areas of the country, particularly along the East
    Coast, the Gulf of Mexico, and the Great Lakes, but there is no part of the
    country or the world that is immune. The second largest dead zone in the
    world is located in the U.S., in the northern Gulf of Mexico.
    The 2015 dead zone in the Gulf Mexico was measured at 6,474
    square miles during a July 28 to August 3 survey cruise. For the
    past five years, the dead zone has averaged about 5,500 square
    miles. Hence, this years dead zone is above average in size.

    Scientists think that the larger than average dead zone this
    summer was caused by heavy rains in the Mississippi River basin.
    Rainwater picks up nitrogen and phosphorous when it flows over
    farm fields and urban lands, and this nutrient laden water triggers
    algae blooms once it reaches the warm, sunlit waters of the Gulf
    of Mexico. When the algae die-off and decompose, oxygen in the
    water column is used up and a dead zone is formed. The low
    oxygen water is lethal to many marine organisms that are unable
    to escape to waters of higher quality. The annual summer bloom
    in the Gulf of Mexico typically subsides as weather patterns shift
    and water temperatures drop in the autumn.

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