The 'bacteria decomposing dead algae' thus depleting O2 model could possibly
explain local hypoxia/anoxia. However when the O2 depleted area becomes as
broad as that seen in the Gulf of Mexico or in the Pacific Ocean, off Oregon,
that model may be lacking.
One approach would be to estimate the actual amount of such algae reaching
the bottom, and the quantity of O2 it would take to decompose (via bacteria).
Is anyone aware of such a quantification?
Esat Atikkan
William Silvert <[EMAIL PROTECTED]> wrote:
Just to hit the first point, the reason why hypereutrophic waters tend to
have benthic dead zones is because they produce too much algae, which sink
rather than being eaten and accumulates on the bottom. There it is degraded
by bacteria, and this is the process that sucks up the oxygen.
Bill Silvert
----- Original Message -----
From:
To:
Sent: Wednesday, February 13, 2008 5:06 PM
Subject: Let's talk about the Gulf dead zone and water nutrients
> I'm not a biologist. I confess I don't understand the fine points of the
> problems related to the Gulf dead zone. The basic facts are pretty
> clear.
> There appear to be several places in the world where nutrients flowing
> into the
> ocean cause anoxic conditions near the ocean bottom. This can happen in
> lakes and rivers too. This is a very odd circumstance, it seems to me.
> Agriculture thrives on nutrients, generally applied by the farmer in some
> way. If
> nutrients are valuable when applied to the farmer's field, why must they
> be so
> bad in the water?
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