NOAA, partners to report on annual Gulf of Mexico ‘dead zone’ monitoring cruise

NOAA and its partners will report on their recent research cruise to measure the extent of the hypoxic or “dead zone” in the Gulf of Mexico during a media teleconference on Tue., Aug. 3 at 1:00 p.m. EDT.

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 4,880 square miles. That is smaller than, but close to, the five-year average measured size of 5,400 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 the zone this year 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 into 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 a media Q&A session.

WHEN

Tue., Aug. 3, 1:00 p.m. EDT 

WHO

• David Kidwell, director, competitive research program, NOAA’s National Centers for Coastal Ocean Science
• Nancy Rabalais, Ph.D., research 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

Meeting link: https://msstate.webex.com/msstate/j.php?MTID=m762e1089c669c4d919bb41460683054f offsite link

Meeting number: 120 746 2241
Password: HypoCon

Or join by phone
+1-469-210-7159 
+1-415-655-0001 (Toll)
Access code: 120 746 2241