The gulf of mexico dead zone. Its created as calm weather lets fresh river water form a layer above. What causes the dead zone. The dead zone starts at the bottom and grows upward as well as outward every summer off louisiana reaching into texas waters.
The gulf dead zone threatens seafood production recreation and marine life. The dead zone starts at the bottom and grows upward as well as outward every summer off louisiana reaching into texas waters. Heavy rains and melting snows washed massive amounts of nutrientsparticularly nitrogen and phosphorusfrom lawns sewage treatment plants farm land and other sources along the mississippi river into the gulf of mexico.
The gulf of mexico dead zone is an area of hypoxic link to usgs definition less than 2 ppm dissolved oxygen waters at the mouth of the mississippi river. The largest gulf of mexico dead zone ever measured came back in 2017 at a staggering 8776 square. Tropical weather stirred up the gulf of mexico reducing this years dead zone off louisianas coast to the third smallest ever measured the scientist who has measured it since 1985 said tuesday.
Cc0 public domain the bottom area of low oxygen in louisiana coastal waters west of.