• NOAA reports 2024 ‘dead zone’ in Gulf of Mexico larger than average

    The Gulf of Mexico’s “dead zone,” an area with dangerously low oxygen levels, spans approximately 17 365 km2 (6 705 miles2) this year, making it the 12th largest recorded in 38 years, according to NOAA-supported scientists. This expanse threatens over 1.6 million ha (4 million acres) of marine habitat, an area comparable to the size of New Jersey.

  • NOAA predicts very large 2019 dead zone for the Gulf of Mexico

    NOAA scientists are forecasting 2019 Gulf of Mexico hypoxic zone, or dead zone, to be very large – approximately 20 277 km2 (7 829 mi2). Dead zones are areas of low to no oxygen that can kill fish and other marine animals. Considered one of the world’s…

  • 2015 Gulf of Mexico dead zone ‘above average’

    Scientists have found this year’s Gulf of Mexico dead zone, an area of low to no oxygen that can kill fish and marine life, is, at 16 767 square km (6 474 square miles), above average in size and larger than forecast by NOAA in June. The larger than expected forec