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Gulf of Mexico Survey Maps “Dead Zone” Providing Key Information to Managers
released August 4, 2004
Slightly larger than the long-term average, this year’s hypoxic area was mapped by NCCOS (National Centers for Coastal Ocean Science) -funded scientists at Louisiana Universities Marine Consortium during a recent survey cruise. Still 3 times larger than current reduction goals, the survey found low oxygen bottom-water over an area covering 15,040 km2 (5,800 square miles), extending from the Mississippi River delta almost to Texas. Ongoing for 20 years, these surveys represent a unique long-term dataset for determining the accuracy of model forecasts. It can also be used to gauge the progress of upstream watershed management actions within the Mississippi watershed that comprises greater than 40% of the continental United States. These monitoring studies are part of a larger, NCCOS effort to predict the size of the hypoxic zone under various environmental and management scenarios and to understand the impacts of hypoxia on the Gulf of Mexico ecosystem. For more information, contact David Scheurer (David.Scheurer@noaa.gov, 301-713-3338 x150) or Larry Pugh (Larry.Pugh@noaa.gov, 301-713-3338 x160).
Additional and related informationGulf of Mexico Survey Maps “Dead Zone” Providing Key Information to Managers