What is causing the dead zone in the Gulf of Mexico?
The annual Gulf of Mexico dead zone is primarily caused by excess nutrient pollution from human activities in urban and agricultural areas throughout the Mississippi River watershed.
What are some causes of dead zone activity in the bay?
Dead zones are caused by excessive nitrogen and phosphorous pollution from human activities, including: Agricultural runoff from farmland that carries nutrients from fertilizers and animal manure into rivers and streams, eventually flowing into the Chesapeake Bay.
How can we fix the Gulf of Mexico dead zone?
Solutions include:
- Using fewer fertilizers and adjusting the timing of fertilizer applications to limit runoff of excess nutrients from farmland.
- Control of animal wastes so that they are not allowed to enter into waterways.
How did the Gulf of Mexico dead zone affect the environment?
Hypoxic waters kill high levels of aquatic species, disrupting the food chain and habitat. In addition to wreaking ecological havoc, the dead zone can be a financial drain on coastal communities.
What causes the dead zone?
Dead zones are generally caused by significant nutrient pollution, and are primarily a problem for bays, lakes and coastal waters since they receive excess nutrients from upstream sources. Excess nitrogen and phosphorus cause an overgrowth of algae in a short period of time, also called algae blooms.
When did the dead zone occur in Gulf of Mexico?
The Dead Zone was first recorded in the early 1970’s. It originally occurred every two to three years, but now occurs annually. In the summer of 1999 the Dead Zone reached its peak, encompassing 7,728 square miles.
What are the three main causes of the dead zone?
Nitrogen and phosphorous from agricultural runoff are the primary culprits, but sewage, vehicular and industrial emissions and even natural factors also play a role in the development of dead zones.
What causes dead zone?
What are solutions to fight the problem of these dead zones?
Conservation tillage: Reducing how often fields are tilled reduces erosion and soil compaction, builds soil organic matter, and reduces runoff. Managing livestock waste: Keeping animals and their waste out of streams, rivers, and lakes keep nitrogen and phosphorus out of the water and restores stream banks.
What can we do to help stop dead zones?
A key goal is to help keep nutrients on fields and out of waterways through different farming practices—such as using cover crops, reduced tillage, crop rotation and nutrient management to the benefit of both farmers and the environment.
How do dead zones affect humans?
Elevated nutrient levels and algal blooms can also cause problems in drinking water in communities nearby and upstream from dead zones. Harmful algal blooms release toxins that contaminate drinking water, causing illnesses for animals and humans.
What problems does the Gulf of Mexico have?
Today, the Gulf continues to face ongoing threats such as invasive species, extreme storms and flooding, and land loss. Future issues like sea level rise and a growing coastal population add further stress to the people and wildlife who call the Gulf home.
What are the effects of dead zones?
Dead zones are the most severe result of eutrophication. This dramatic increase in previously limited nutrients causes massive algal blooms. These “red tides” or Harmful Algal Blooms can cause fish kills, human illness through shellfish poisoning, and death of marine mammals and shore birds.
What can we do to prevent dead zones?
What are the causes of dead zones?
Who discovered the Gulf of Mexico dead zone?
Gene Turner
Gene Turner sailed out of Pascagoula, Mississippi, in the spring of 1975, on the first of seven cruises that led to the discovery of the Gulf of Mexico dead zone.
Why are dead zones important?
Because most organisms need oxygen to live, few organisms can survive in hypoxic conditions. That is why these areas are called dead zones. Dead zones occur because of a process called eutrophication, which happens when a body of water gets too many nutrients, such as phosphorus and nitrogen.
How do dead zones impact the environment?
Dead zones result from these impacts, which include algal blooms and hypoxia. Phosphorous, nitrogen, and other nutrients increase the productivity or fertility of marine ecosystems. Organisms such as phytoplankton, algae, and seaweeds will grow quickly and excessively on the water’s surface.
How does human activity affect the Gulf?
Major ecological problems have arisen from loss/degradation of production coastal habitats, caused by coastal landfill, dredging and sedimentation. In some Gulf States (e.g. Saudi Arabia) more than 40% of the coastline has now been developed.
How does human activity affect the Gulf of Mexico?
The impact of human activity This growing population has increased the demand for fresh water and generated large quantities of sewage and industrial waste (including heavy metals and polychlorinated biphenyls), much of which have been discharged directly into gulf waters or indirectly by rivers draining into the gulf.
What is the Gulf of Mexico Dead Zone?
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. Its area varies in size, but can cover up to 6,000-7,000 square miles.
What is the Dead Zone in the Mississippi River?
The dead zone is an area where nutrient pollution from lawns, sewage treatment plants, farm land and other sources along the Mississippi River wash into the Gulf of Mexico, causing algae blooms that deplete oxygen from the water and make it difficult for marine life to survive.
Consequently, algal blooms develop, the food chain is altered, and dissolved oxygen in the area is depleted. The size of the dead zone fluctuates seasonally, as it is exacerbated by farming practices. It is also affected by weather events such as flooding and hurricanes.
How does the Dead Zone affect the fishing industry?
Because fish and other commercial species usually move out to sea in order to avoid the dead zone, fishermen are forced to travel farther from land—and spend more time and money—to make their catches, adding stress to an industry already hurt by hurricanes and the oil spill.