Dead Zones in the Gulf of Mexico

A dead zone area in the Gulf of Mexico along the coast of Louisiana and Texas is causing the marine life that call that place home to flee or perish due to uninhabitable levels of oxygen in the water. Dissolved oxygen near the bottom of that area only accounts for .000002% of the water composition--rendering aquatic life in that area non-existent or extremely futile. A surplus of nutrients being deposited via the Mississippi River is largely to blame, creating superfluous amounts of algae and zooplankton. These organisms then defecate, and the remnants then fall to the ocean floor and deplete oxygen levels--thus causing hypoxia or a dead zone.

NASA's Imaging Technology Reveals Ocean Dead Zones

Lacking oxygen, and therefore devoid of life, the existence of ocean dead zones is a phenomena on a large list of global level changes. The balance of this planet is delicate, and while there are thousands of ecosystems throughout the earth, they all depend on water. If our oceans are not protected, there is nothing left to protect ourselves.

Phytoplankton, very small organisms   that metabolize via energy from the sun are a crucial part of the balance of life in our oceans. The measure of phytoplankton is an important indicator in identifiying ocean dead zones. Through satellite imaging, NASA has developed a system that can monitor current levels anywhere on earth within hours.