{"id":2318079,"date":"2024-08-02T09:09:02","date_gmt":"2024-08-02T13:09:02","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/gulf-of-mexico-dead-zone-larger-than-average-exceeds-june-prediction-washington-examiner\/"},"modified":"2024-08-02T09:16:48","modified_gmt":"2024-08-02T13:16:48","slug":"gulf-of-mexico-dead-zone-larger-than-average-exceeds-june-prediction-washington-examiner","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/gulf-of-mexico-dead-zone-larger-than-average-exceeds-june-prediction-washington-examiner\/","title":{"rendered":"Gulf of Mexico \u2018dead zone\u2019 larger than average, exceeds June prediction &#8211; Washington Examiner"},"content":{"rendered":"<aside class=\"mashsb-container mashsb-main mashsb-stretched\"><div class=\"mashsb-box\"><div class=\"mashsb-count mash-medium\" style=\"float:left\"><div class=\"counts mashsbcount\">28<\/div><span class=\"mashsb-sharetext\">SHARES<\/span><\/div><div class=\"mashsb-buttons\"><a class=\"mashicon-facebook mash-medium mash-nomargin mashsb-noshadow\" href=\"https:\/\/www.facebook.com\/sharer.php?u=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.conservativenewsdaily.net%2Fbreaking-news%2Fgulf-of-mexico-dead-zone-larger-than-average-exceeds-june-prediction-washington-examiner%2F\" target=\"_top\" rel=\"nofollow\"><span class=\"icon\"><\/span><span class=\"text\">Facebook<\/span><\/a><a class=\"mashicon-twitter mash-medium mash-nomargin mashsb-noshadow\" href=\"https:\/\/twitter.com\/intent\/tweet?text=&amp;url=https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/?p=2318079&amp;via=ConservNewsDly\" target=\"_top\" rel=\"nofollow\"><span class=\"icon\"><\/span><span class=\"text\">Twitter<\/span><\/a><a class=\"mashicon-subscribe mash-medium mash-nomargin mashsb-noshadow\" href=\"#\" target=\"_top\" rel=\"nofollow\"><span class=\"icon\"><\/span><span class=\"text\">Subscribe<\/span><\/a><div class=\"onoffswitch2 mash-medium mashsb-noshadow\" style=\"display:none\"><\/div><\/div>\n            <\/div>\n                <div style=\"clear:both\"><\/div><\/aside>\n            <!-- Share buttons by mashshare.net - Version: 4.0.47--><p>A\u2063 <a href=\"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/using-wrong-pronouns-should-be-criminal-offense-say-almost-half-of-millennials-survey\/\" title=\"Almost half of millennials believe that using incorrect pronouns should be considered a &quot;criminal offense,&quot; according to a survey.\">recent\u200d survey<\/a> has revealed that the \u200dlow-oxygen \u2063&#8221;<a href=\"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/plastic-barriers-ineffective-in-stopping-spread-of-covid-19\/\" title=\"Plastic barriers ineffective in stopping spread of COVID-19\">dead zone<\/a>&#8221; in the Gulf of Mexico is larger than \u200cboth average and initial predictions. Spanning approximately \u20626,705 square miles (about the size\u2062 of New Jersey), this dead zone poses\u200c a significant threat to <a href=\"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/clean-up-probe-underway-following-oil-spill-in-san-francisco-bay\/\" title=\"Clean up, probe underway following oil spill in San Francisco Bay\">marine life<\/a>, as it can lead to the death of fish and \u2063other organisms due to a lack of oxygen. Conducted by scientists\u2063 from Louisiana\u2062 State University and the Louisiana Universities Marine\u2062 Consortium, \u2063the findings were supported by \u200bthe National\u200d Oceanographic \u200cand Atmospheric Administration (NOAA). \u200bNOAA had previously anticipated a dead zone\u200c of 5,827 square miles\u200b based on\u200d <a href=\"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/embattled-environmental-activist-takes-center-stage-in-bid-to-cancel-pipeline\/\" title=\"Embattled Environmental Activist Takes Center Stage in Bid to Cancel Pipeline\">data related<\/a> to nutrient runoff from\u200c the Mississippi River, but\u200c the actual size\u2062 surpassed all expectations. Notably, the average size of\u200d dead zones in the Gulf over the last five years has been around 4,298 square\u200b miles. Excessive nutrients, particularly from\u200d fertilizers, are the primary drivers behind the development of these low-oxygen areas.  <\/p>\n<p class=\"readmore\">\n    <button onclick=\"showReadMore()\" id=\"readmorebtn\">Read more&#8230;<\/button>\n<\/p>\n<hr id=\"line\">\n<span id=\"more\"><\/p>\n<p><?xml encoding=\"utf-8\" ?><?xml encoding=\"utf-8\" ?><?xml encoding=\"utf-8\" ?><?xml encoding=\"utf-8\" ?><?xml encoding=\"utf-8\" ?><?xml encoding=\"utf-8\" ?><\/p>\n<div class=\"tdb-block-inner td-fix-index\"><span class=\"tdb-mobile-menu-button\"><i class=\"tdb-mobile-menu-icon td-icon-mobile\"><\/i><\/span><\/div>\n<div class=\"tdb-block-inner td-fix-index\"><span class=\"tdb-header-search-button-mob dropdown-toggle\" data-toggle=\"dropdown\"><i class=\"tdb-mobile-search-icon td-icon-search\"><\/i><\/span><\/div>\n<div class=\"tdb-block-inner td-fix-index\"><\/div>\n<div class=\"tdb-block-inner td-fix-index\"><span class=\"tdb-mobile-menu-button\"><i class=\"tdb-mobile-menu-icon td-icon-mobile\"><\/i><\/span><\/div>\n<div class=\"tdb-block-inner td-fix-index\">\n<div class=\"tdb-drop-down-search\" aria-labelledby=\"td-header-search-button\">\n<div class=\"tdb-drop-down-search-inner\">\n<form method=\"get\" class=\"tdb-search-form\" action=\"https:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/\"><\/form>\n<div class=\"tdb-aj-search\"><\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<p><a href=\"http:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/#\" role=\"button\" aria-label=\"Search\" class=\"tdb-head-search-btn dropdown-toggle\" data-toggle=\"dropdown\"><i class=\"tdb-search-icon td-icon-search\"><\/i><\/a><\/div>\n<div class=\"tdb-block-inner td-fix-index\"><\/div>\n<div class=\"tdb-block-inner td-fix-index\">\n<h1 class=\"tdb-title-text\">Gulf of Mexico &lsquo;dead zone&rsquo; larger than average, exceeds June prediction<\/h1>\n<div><\/div>\n<div class=\"tdb-title-line\"><\/div>\n<\/div>\n<div class=\"tdb-block-inner td-fix-index\"><\/div>\n<div class=\"tdb-block-inner td-fix-index\"><\/div>\n<div class=\"tdb-block-inner td-fix-index\">\n<div id=\"Brid_1721373\" class=\"tpd-featured-video bridtv\"><\/div>\n<p>(The Center Square) &ndash;&nbsp;A low-oxygen &ldquo;dead zone&rdquo; in the Gulf of Mexico was larger than average and what was predicted, a <a href=\"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/minority-employees-at-state-department-oppose-diversity-plan\/\" title=\"Minority Employees at State Department Oppose Diversity Plan\">recent survey found<\/a>.<\/p>\n<p>The &ldquo;dead zone&rdquo; with little to no oxygen can kill fish and marine life is approximately 6,705 square miles, or 4 million acres, the 12th largest found in 38 years of surveys. Work was done by&nbsp;scientists from Louisiana State University and the Louisiana Universities Marine Consortium supported by the National Oceanographic and Atmospheric Administration.<\/p>\n<p>This &ldquo;dead zone&rdquo; is the size of New Jersey, and is larger than NOAA&nbsp;<a href=\"https:\/\/link.mediaoutreach.meltwater.com\/ls\/click?upn=u001.rLWQltqwDexXafFwhTzwZK7dJmB0X-2FthFJVNyiLSTluECJqSR1HiCCkD-2B6lZBfTYPYEfJ-2FV5HUlbFd-2F5bfoeJKIZdlp6c1Ddq67er-2BjMpNiDT3dFaYS8K8lyi1DIxkBqETmP4lMgWJG52OKVj4zfLg-3D-3DHlDB_P8ncIqALG-2B7MX8quxt8PtUpv3D-2BsZQBkt-2Fme5e7XCn5-2FSeq16-2BRfPyD0yeQn-2BppKJHNNQ1E-2BUJXoHsZaB8kfJfqgjbPJuv-2BGGZCff4bulr1pyAucrc-2FT5fLOIn1Qh-2F88uZ0Y0Y08nca9SD0guVXPSeqlmXWTiZ7mjpoKbyB2-2BCubdvfvj80g9-2BrH3mq-2F-2FwjLuJEaVhaslzSy2WQ2yd5FUHR-2FkjXPQQlAVDqDhDucid6uAC9daQI1g-2FfQI8BURv6tOa0whFJ3zrmFsspHGKLB7Nr3bbpjU88Q4VG186Z0zghWjLf-2BPwpc07ueRTxdE7p91s-2F8BTJAfVgj8glVDGXqiqRrYJgYGtdNI2dGp-2BI8vgGupDaO1XzNCeKr-2FngGiiBUe3m36D8ZCu6CLwrnLnWLpQ-3D-3D\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\"><strong>predicted<\/strong><\/a>&nbsp;in June.<\/p>\n<p>The agency predicted an above-average sized &ldquo;dead zone&rdquo; of 5,827 square miles, utilizing data on Mississippi River discharge and nutrient runoff data from the U.S. Geological Survey.<\/p>\n<p>The average size of the hypoxia zone in the Gulf over the past five years has been&nbsp;4,298 square miles.&nbsp;<\/p>\n<p>These zones of low to no oxygen are caused by excessive nutrients, such as fertilizer runoff from farmland, and from the Mississippi and Atchafalaya river systems.<\/p>\n<p>These nutrients set off an overgrowth of algae that dies and decomposes, depleting oxygen from the water as it sinks to the bottom. Research has shown this depletion causes fish and other marine life to vacate the area.&nbsp;<\/p>\n<p>&ldquo;It&rsquo;s critical that we measure this region&rsquo;s hypoxia as an indicator of ocean health, particularly under a changing climate and potential intensification of storms and increases in precipitation and runoff,&rdquo; Nicole LeBoeuf, assistant administrator of NOAA&rsquo;s National Ocean Service, said in a release. &ldquo;The benefit of this long-term data set is that it helps decision makers as they adjust their strategies to reduce the dead zone and manage impacts to coastal resources and communities.&rdquo;<\/p>\n<p>The Environmental Protection Agency started the Gulf Hypoxia Program to reduce excessive nutrients and&nbsp;<a href=\"https:\/\/www.epa.gov\/ms-htf\/hypoxia-task-force-action-plans-and-goal-framework\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\"><strong>reduce<\/strong><\/a>&nbsp;the &ldquo;dead zones&rdquo; to 3,100 square miles or less by 2035. It is funded by $60 million from the $1.2 trillion Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act of 2021.<\/p>\n<p> <script data-cfasync=\"false\" src=\"http:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/cdn-cgi\/scripts\/5c5dd728\/cloudflare-static\/email-decode.min.js\"><\/script><script>!function(){var g=window;g.googletag=g.googletag||{},g.googletag.cmd=g.googletag.cmd||[],g.googletag.cmd.push(function(){g.googletag.pubads().setTargeting(\"has-featured-video\",\"true\")})}();<\/script><script>var _bp=_bp||[];_bp.push({\"div\":\"Brid_1721373\",\"obj\":{\"id\":\"27789\",\"width\":\"1280\",\"height\":\"720\",\"stickyDirection\":\"below\",\"video\":\"1721373\"}});<\/script><script defer src=\"https:\/\/services.brid.tv\/player\/build\/brid.min.js\"><\/script><\/div>\n<div class=\"tdb-block-inner td-fix-index\"><\/div>\n<div class=\"tdb-block-inner td-fix-index\"><\/div>\n<p><\/span><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>A recent survey has revealed that a low-oxygen &#8220;dead zone&#8221; in the Gulf of Mexico is larger than both the average size and previous predictions. This area, which has minimal oxygen and poses a threat to fish and marine life, spans about 6,705 square miles (approximately 4 million acres), making it the 12th largest dead zone recorded in 38 years of research. The study was conducted by scientists from Louisiana State University and the Louisiana Universities Marine Consortium with support from the National Oceanographic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA). This dead zone is comparable in size to New Jersey and exceeds NOAA&#8217;s June forecast of an above-average dead zone measuring 5,827 square miles. The prediction was based on data regarding nutrient runoff from farmland into the Mississippi River. Over the past five years, the average hypoxia zone in this region has been around 4,298 square miles. These low-oxygen areas are primarily caused by excessive nutrients\u2014such as fertilizer runoff\u2014which lead to algal blooms that deplete oxygen when they die off and decompose at the bottom of water bodies. Research indicates that this oxygen depletion drives fish and other marine organisms away from these regions. Nicole LeBoeuf, assistant administrator for NOAA\u2019s National Ocean Service, emphasized the importance of monitoring hypoxia levels as an indicator of ocean health amid climate change concerns like intensified storms and increased precipitation leading to more runoff. The Environmental Protection Agency has initiated a Gulf Hypoxia Program aimed at reducing nutrient levels to decrease these dead zones to under 3,100 square miles by 2035; this program is backed by $60 million allocated from the $1.2 trillion Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act passed in 2021<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":2318080,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_mo_disable_npp":"","fifu_image_url":"https:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/03\/AP23287729452797-1024x683.jpg","fifu_image_alt":"","footnotes":""},"categories":[],"tags":[36993,36214,36992,36994,32076],"class_list":["post-2318079","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","tag-dead-zone","tag-environmental-news","tag-gulf-of-mexico","tag-marine-ecology","tag-washington-examiner"],"fifu_image_url":"https:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/03\/AP23287729452797-1024x683.jpg","_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/2318079","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/1"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=2318079"}],"version-history":[{"count":0,"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/2318079\/revisions"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/2318080"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=2318079"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=2318079"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=2318079"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}