A "Dead Zone" in the Gulf of Mexico
Currently, a "dead zone" with the area size of New Jersey lies in the Gulf of Mexico. This larger than normal dead zone is a area of water severely deprived of oxygen and marine life. The Gulf of Mexico's dead zone is a result of nitrogen and phosphorus fertilizers flowing into the water off of local crops. This summer, the dead zone's area is the largest its ever been due to the above average rainfall that fell in the Midwest. The heavy amount of rainfall washed more nitrogen and phosphorus nutrients from farmer's crops into streams and river than it has in past summers. Since these pollutants deprive the water of oxygen, marine life avoids the area. This affects local fishermen and shrimp businesses because they have to traveled further offshore to catch fish and shrimp.
The dead zone in the Gulf of Mexico forces to the surface one of many problems causes by the use of nitrogen and phosphorus based fertilizers. These fertilizers are an important environmental issue because they are polluting our water systems and hurting marine life. A solution to this problem would be to find or invent other effective fertilizers to use on crops. I also believe stricter regulations need to be placed on the amount of fertilizer a farmer can use on their crops during farming seasons in order to reduce the amount of pollution they cause.
Click here to learn more about the dead zone in the Gulf of Mexico.
The dead zone in the Gulf of Mexico forces to the surface one of many problems causes by the use of nitrogen and phosphorus based fertilizers. These fertilizers are an important environmental issue because they are polluting our water systems and hurting marine life. A solution to this problem would be to find or invent other effective fertilizers to use on crops. I also believe stricter regulations need to be placed on the amount of fertilizer a farmer can use on their crops during farming seasons in order to reduce the amount of pollution they cause.
Click here to learn more about the dead zone in the Gulf of Mexico.
We are going to do a lab or two looking at this effect. I wonder if hurricane Harvey will help or hurt in the long run... tons more rain and flooding means an increase in fertilizer run-off. On the flip side, did the huge stirring of the gulf that can with the powerful winds and rain of the storm help to move some nutrients around? I guess time will tell. I'd be interested in seeing some of the dissolved oxygen numbers after the waters return to "normal."
ReplyDeleteStudies and projections have shown that the Phosphorous and Nitrogen runoff will increase with the heavier rainfall and the warmer winters, so unless drastic measures are taken and upheld by the farming community this will probably continue.
ReplyDeleteStudies and projections have shown that the Phosphorous and Nitrogen runoff will increase with the heavier rainfall and the warmer winters, so unless drastic measures are taken and upheld by the farming community this will probably continue.
ReplyDeleteVery interesting article! I think that there needs to be serious measures taken to properly care for our environment and make sure that the marine life is properly taken care of. As Heagerty said, I think that the hurricane can go either way in making the situation worse or better. I think that it will be interesting to see the effects that the hurricane has on the "dead zone".
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