NOAA To Address Gulf Dead Zone Wednesday

NOAA and its partners will report on their recent research cruise to measure the extent of the hypoxic area, or “dead zone,” in the Gulf of Mexico during a media teleconference on Wed., Aug. 3 at 1 p.m. EDT.

A CTD instrument descends over the side of the R/V Pelican during a cruise in the Gulf of Mexico to study hypoxia. Credit: LUMCON

In June, NOAA scientists forecasted this summer’s dead zone –– an area of low to no oxygen that can kill fish and other marine life –– to be approximately 5,364 square miles. That is smaller than, but close to, the five-year average measured size of 5,380 square miles, and substantially less than the record of 8,776 square miles set in 2017.

Speakers will discuss factors affecting the measured size of this year’s dead zone and potential effects to living resources, the accuracy of the spring hypoxia forecast and ongoing federal and state efforts in the Mississippi River watershed to reduce nutrient inputs entering the Gulf.

WHAT

Media teleconference on the measured size of the Gulf of Mexico dead zone and efforts to predict and mitigate its effects, followed by Q&A.

WHEN

Wed., Aug. 3, 1:00 p.m. EDT

WHO

Steve Thur, Ph.D., director, NOAA’s National Centers for Coastal Ocean Science
Nancy Rabalais, Ph.D., professor, Louisiana State University/Louisiana Universities Marine Consortium; chief scientist on survey cruise
Mike Naig, secretary of agriculture, State of Iowa
Radhika Fox, assistant administrator, Office of Water, Environmental Protection Agency

Secretary Naig and Assistant Administrator Fox are co-chairs of the Mississippi River/Gulf of Mexico Watershed Nutrient Task Force.

HOW

Reporters should register using this link:
https://msstate.webex.com/msstate/j.php?RGID=r40b021ccae5c8dec9dc05ed47e1c00c4