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NOAA, partners predict possible record-setting dead zone for Gulf of Mexico
Also anticipating smaller hypoxia levels than in past in Chesapeake Bay
June 18, 2013
(Credit: NOAA)
[font color=gray]Dead zone. Less oxygen dissolved in the water is often referred to as a
“dead zone” (in red above) because most marine life either dies, or, if
they are mobile such as fish, leave the area. Habitats that would normally
be teeming with life become, essentially, biological deserts.[/font]
Scientists are expecting a very large “dead zone” in the Gulf of Mexico and a smaller than average hypoxic level in the Chesapeake Bay this year, based on several NOAA-supported forecast models.
NOAA-supported modelers at the University of Michigan, Louisiana State University, and the Louisiana Universities Marine Consortium are forecasting that this year’s Gulf of Mexico hypoxic “dead” zone will be between 7,286 and 8,561 square miles which could place it among the ten largest recorded.
That would range from an area the size of Connecticut, Rhode Island and the District of Columbia combined on the low end to the New Jersey on the upper end. The high estimate would exceed the largest ever reported 8,481 square miles in 2002 .
Hypoxic (very low oxygen) and anoxic (no oxygen) zones are caused by excessive nutrient pollution, often from human activities such as agriculture, which results in insufficient oxygen to support most marine life in near-bottom waters. Aspects of weather, including wind speed, wind direction, precipitation and temperature, also impact the size of dead zones.
The Gulf estimate is based on the assumption of no significant tropical storms in the two weeks preceding or during the official measurement survey cruise scheduled from July 25-August 3 2013. If a storm does occur the size estimate could drop to a low of 5344 square miles, slightly smaller than the size of Connecticut.
[center][/center]
More
June 18, 2013
(Credit: NOAA)
[font color=gray]Dead zone. Less oxygen dissolved in the water is often referred to as a
“dead zone” (in red above) because most marine life either dies, or, if
they are mobile such as fish, leave the area. Habitats that would normally
be teeming with life become, essentially, biological deserts.[/font]
Scientists are expecting a very large “dead zone” in the Gulf of Mexico and a smaller than average hypoxic level in the Chesapeake Bay this year, based on several NOAA-supported forecast models.
NOAA-supported modelers at the University of Michigan, Louisiana State University, and the Louisiana Universities Marine Consortium are forecasting that this year’s Gulf of Mexico hypoxic “dead” zone will be between 7,286 and 8,561 square miles which could place it among the ten largest recorded.
That would range from an area the size of Connecticut, Rhode Island and the District of Columbia combined on the low end to the New Jersey on the upper end. The high estimate would exceed the largest ever reported 8,481 square miles in 2002 .
Hypoxic (very low oxygen) and anoxic (no oxygen) zones are caused by excessive nutrient pollution, often from human activities such as agriculture, which results in insufficient oxygen to support most marine life in near-bottom waters. Aspects of weather, including wind speed, wind direction, precipitation and temperature, also impact the size of dead zones.
The Gulf estimate is based on the assumption of no significant tropical storms in the two weeks preceding or during the official measurement survey cruise scheduled from July 25-August 3 2013. If a storm does occur the size estimate could drop to a low of 5344 square miles, slightly smaller than the size of Connecticut.
[center][/center]
More
7 replies
= new reply since forum marked as read
= new reply since forum marked as read
Wooooo!! Go team!!! *fist pump* 
... for the first prick to turn up and claim that "ITS ALL BP'S FAULT!!!"
