NOAA Predicts Larger-Than-Average 'Dead Zone' in Gulf of Mexico

This summer's hypoxic area, expected to cover nearly 6,000 square miles, threatens marine life due to excessive nutrient pollution.

The forecasted dead zone is approximately 5,847 square miles, exceeding the 37-year average of 5,205 square miles.
Excess nitrogen and phosphorus from the Mississippi-Atchafalaya River Basin are major contributors to the hypoxic conditions.
Dead zones deplete oxygen in the water, forcing fish and shrimp to vacate and potentially killing immobile marine life.
NOAA and USGS use river discharge and nutrient data to predict the size and impact of the dead zone each year.
Efforts to reduce nutrient runoff include better agricultural practices and restoring wetlands to filter pollutants.