NOAA Predicts Larger Dead Zone in Gulf of Mexico

NOAA predicts a possible record size dead zone in the Gulf of Mexico this summer based on computer modeling it supports at the Universities of Michigan and Louisiana State. The hypoxic, or very low levels of oxygen, zone will be between 7,286 and 8,561 sq. miles placing it among the largest ten recorded. Hypoxia is caused by excess nutrient pollution arising mostly from agricultural runoff carried into the Gulf. Due to drought conditions, last years dead zone in the Gulf was the fourth smallest, about the size of Delaware. Stream flows into the Gulf from the Mississippi and Atchafalya Rivers were above normal in May resulting in a 16% increase for the nutrient load. The size of the dead zone, so named because the lack of oxygen on the sea bottom prohibits marine life, will be confirmed during an August survey cruise. Should the hypoxic zone extend to the higher end of the predicted range, it would exceed the record size of 2002. NOAA predicts a smaller than average hypoxia zone for the Chesapeake Bay. Hypoxia zones in the Chesapeake threaten a multi-year effort to restore the Bay's water quality and increase populations of crab and oysters, both commercially important species. Dead zones are proliferating around the world in an age of chemical intensive agriculture.