'Dead zone' in the Gulf of Mexico expands to a record level

US scientists estimate the deadly Gulf of Mexico in 2017 will be twice as large as the average year.

The dead zone in the Gulf of Mexico has doubled in size this year. Photo: NOAA.

Scientists at Louisiana State University (LSU), USA, estimate that in 2017, the oxygen-poor "dead zone" in the Gulf of Mexico will be the largest ever, Seeker reported on June 21.

"Dead zone" is a concept that refers toSeawater contains large amounts of fertilizers, animal and human waste, which promotes the growth of algae. When algae die, they decompose, reducing the amount of oxygen in the seawater, killing fish and many other marine life.

The dead zone in the Gulf of Mexico expanded as nitrogen-rich runoff from many farms in the central and western United States poured into rivers like the Mississippi, which then flowed out into the sea.

According to the research team, this year's dead zone in the Gulf of Mexico will cover an area of ​​more than 26,000 square kilometers.²off the coast of Louisiana and Texas, USA, is nearly twice as large as the annual average of about 13,700 km².

“There are a lot of nitrate compounds in the waterways in May. That's the biggest factor in our prediction,” said Nancy Rabalais, a professor of marine ecology at LSU.

According to Rabalais, efforts to address the source of dead zones have had little effect so far. Some farms are adopting practices that reduce fertilizer use, but the area in the watershed is still relatively small.

Rain, wind, temperature and ocean currents also influence the size and movement of the dead zone in the Gulf of Mexico. Previous research has shown that the lack of oxygen in the area destroys habitats and kills many fish species.

According to VNE