The death of an ocean

The Death of an Ocean O2 Less oxygen dissolved in the water is often referred to as a "dead zone." marine life dies or settle elsewhere transforms into biological deserts "Dead zone" "Dead zones are hypoxic (low-oxygen) areas in the world's oceans and large lakes, caused by excessive nutrient pollution from human activities coupled with other factors that deplete the oxygen required to support most marine life in bottom and near-bottom water. " source: Wikipedia The Earth currently has more than 500 oceaniC dead zones, with the count doubling every decade. A single dead zone may cover tens of thousands of square miles. Hypoxic zones can occur naturally, but scientists are concerned about: the areas affected by human activity Cause of Oceanic, "Hypoxic" Conditions I eutrophication I agricultural run-offs/interferences sewage; vehicular; industrial emissions agricultural run-offs/interferences sewage; vehicular; industrial emissions eutrophication "The global proliferation of dead zones, once mainly a problem of the developed world, had been fueled by industrialization, changing eating habits and population growth, which has led to more fertilizer use and more waste in the world's watersheds." - NY Times Dead Zone Facts there are an estimated 530 aquatic dead zones including 166 in US waters amounting to 95,000 square miles 1.3 million metric tons of fish food each year in the Baltic Sea are lost as a result of deád zones. 75,000 metric tons of fish food 8,481 square miles is the largest recorded dėad zone measured in 2002 production are prevented as a result of Dead Zones Most famous U.S. dead zone? 6,765 square mile south off the Gulf of Mexico (and increasing): the tripling of nitrogen levels over the past 50 years from human activities has lead to the increase of dead zone size Dead Zone Damage: red circles = location/size of current dead zones black circles = unknown size of potential dead zones This satellite-based interpretational map highlights many of Earth's oceanic, dead zones. Types of Dead Zones Scientists clossify water bodies in four categories: permanent temporary seasonal diel cycling 1. Permanent Hypoxia 2. Temporary Hypoxia occurs in deep waters where oxygen rarely rises about 2 milligrams per liter exists for hours and/or days 4I Hypoxic levels of oxygen (< 2 mg L") 14 Hypoxic levels of axygen (2 mg L") Sac ea Carago Basn, Venezaa • Peruce Locations of permanent hypaxia Locations of temporary hypaxia 3. Seasonal Hypoxia 4, Diel Cycling Hypoxia occurs every year, but only during warm seasons occurs in warm nights and only at nighttime Hypoxic leveis of oxygen (« 2 mg L") 14 Hypoxic levels of oxygen (< 2 mg L") Pepper C ot MA USA Europe Chesapee Ba Selo inand Locations of seasonal hypoxia Locations of diel cycling hypoxcia Care to spread your eco-friendly knowledge? Start by sharing this infographic. Brought to you by: DistanceLearning .com sources: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Deadzone_%28ecology%29 http://oceanservice.noaa.gov/facts/deadzone.html http://www.scientificamerican.com/article.cfm?id=ocean-dead-zones http://www.nsf.gov/news/special_reports/deadzones/climatechange.jsp http://www.cnn.com/2012/07/17/world/europe/dead-zone-baltic-oxygen http://www.nytimes.com/2008/08/15/science/earth/15oceans.html?r-o http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2008/07/080715114149.htm http://news.mongabay.com/2010/0722-hance_deadzones_nasa.html