AdministratorWhat is the deadzone in the Gulf of Mexico?
The hypoxic zone in the northern Gulf of Mexico is an area along the Louisiana-Texas coast, where water near the bottom of the Gulf contains less than two parts per million of dissolved oxygen, causing a condition referred to as hypoxia. Each summer, the size of the hypoxic zone is measured.
What caused the Gulf of Mexico to become a dead zone?
What Causes the Dead Zone? Heavy rains and melting snows washed massive amounts of nutrients—particularly nitrogen and phosphorus—from lawns, sewage treatment plants, farm land and other sources along the Mississippi River into the Gulf of Mexico.
What is the effect of having a dead zone in the Gulf of Mexico?
What Are the Effects? Nutrient overloading and algal blooms lead to eutrophication (link to USGS definition), which has been shown to reduce benthic (link to definition) biomass and biodiversity. Hypoxic water supports fewer organisms and has been linked to massive fish kills in the Black Sea and Gulf of Mexico.
Who is responsible for the Gulf of Mexico dead zone?
The primary culprit responsible for the growing size of the dead zone is an increasing supply of nitrogen dumped into the Gulf of Mexico from the Mississippi River. Nitrogen levels discharged from the river have nearly tripled since the 1950s, with an annual average since 1980 of 1.6 million metric tons.
What are the three main causes of the dead zone?
Nitrogen and phosphorous from agricultural runoff are the primary culprits, but sewage, vehicular and industrial emissions and even natural factors also play a role in the development of dead zones.
What causes the dead zone?
Dead zones are generally caused by significant nutrient pollution, and are primarily a problem for bays, lakes and coastal waters since they receive excess nutrients from upstream sources. Excess nitrogen and phosphorus cause an overgrowth of algae in a short period of time, also called algae blooms.
How do dead zones affect humans?
Elevated nutrient levels and algal blooms can also cause problems in drinking water in communities nearby and upstream from dead zones. Harmful algal blooms release toxins that contaminate drinking water, causing illnesses for animals and humans.
When did the dead zone occur in Gulf of Mexico?
The Dead Zone was first recorded in the early 1970’s. It originally occurred every two to three years, but now occurs annually. In the summer of 1999 the Dead Zone reached its peak, encompassing 7,728 square miles.
Where do dead zones form?
When there are excessive amounts of nitrogen and phosphorus in the water, algae can bloom to harmful levels. Dead zones form when the algae die, sink to the bottom, and are decomposed by bacteria—a process that strips dissolved oxygen from the surrounding water.
What happens if you swim in a dead zone?
Dead zones are areas of the Bay and its tidal rivers, typically the bottom waters, that don’t have enough oxygen in the water to support aquatic life. With little or no oxygen, fish, crabs, oysters, and other aquatic animals literally suffocate.
What could fix the Gulf of Mexico Dead Zone?
The Conservancy is working with farmers to promote more effective and efficient use of fertilizers
What are the effects of the Dead Zone in the Gulf of Mexico?
The dead zone is an area where nutrient pollution from lawns, sewage treatment plants, farm land and other sources along the Mississippi River wash into the Gulf of Mexico, causing algae blooms that deplete oxygen from the water and make it difficult for marine life to survive.
Where is the Gulf of Mexico anoxic zone?
Fertilizers from agriculture,golf courses,and suburban lawns
Are more dolphins dying in the Gulf of Mexico?
Hundreds of dolphins have died along Gulf Coast since February, scientists say At least 279 animals have been stranded, triple the usual figure, and 98% have died, prompting investigation This…