Gulf of America Hypoxic Zone Second Smallest on Record

NOAA-supported scientists have announced that the Gulf of America's hypoxic zone, also known as a 'dead zone,' measured approximately 1,332 square miles this year, making it the second smallest recorded in 40 years of measurements. This smaller-than-anticipated size is attributed to Tropical Storm Bertha, which churned the water and mixed oxygen-rich surface waters down to the seabed. Hypoxic zones negatively impact marine life by reducing oxygen levels in critical habitats.