Northern Gulf of Mexico

    NASA image acquired January 3, 2012

    One of the most documented dead zones on Earth is in the northern Gulf of Mexico in the summer when solar heating increases the buoyancy of surface waters thereby reducing mixing between the surface and the bottom. Phytoplankton -- powered by the same sunlight and fed by a rich nutrient broth flowing out of local rivers -- bloom, die, sink, and get remineralized by bacteria which use up all the available oxygen in the isolated bottom waters which then become dead zones.

    The above view looking eastwards from Louisiana on the left towards northern Florida in the distance on the right was collected in winter when oxygenated water is more easily mixed down to the sea floor. The tell-tale tan and greenish-brown plumes from the Mississippi and Atchafalaya rivers show that even though dead zones may not form in winter, transport of the suspended sediments that are usually accompanied by nutrients continues all year long.

    Credit: NASA/GSFC/Aqua MODIS

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    Comments and faves

    1. ★

      p_valdivieso, Ed_Winchester, thomas.armstrong, khiaaok, and 111 other people added this photo to their favorites.

    2. DarkAngelDay (16 months ago | reply)

      Great shot

    3. Ed_Winchester (16 months ago | reply)

      Awesome.

    4. This photo was invited and added to the The Essence of Capture Nature / Selected photos only group.

    5. M Guadalupe Es....Gracias por las visitas (16 months ago | reply)

      wonderful image

    6. Esdras Zarazua (16 months ago | reply)

      gorgeous!

    7. Johannes_wl (16 months ago | reply)

      Omg.. that's epic.

    8. dodagp (16 months ago | reply)

      Impressive !
      Interesting footnotes,also.

    9. dsleeter_2000 (16 months ago | reply)

      I love these. Here's my slightly enhanced version:

    10. Life Reflections ♥ (16 months ago | reply)

      Fascinating!!

    11. quader™ (16 months ago | reply)

      the blue planet! great!

    12. LizaLovesNature (16 months ago | reply)

      The Earth is so Beautiful. Thank you for sharing this awesome photo.

    13. hey.pictrues (16 months ago | reply)

      yeah, that is it

    14. Amarbat (16 months ago | reply)

      How beautiful, my earth! Please, could you someday post any shot of Mongolia?

    15. NASA Goddard Photo and Video (16 months ago | reply)

      I'll see what we can do.

    16. Cristyjan (16 months ago | reply)

      well done

    17. DiamantThomy (16 months ago | reply)

      Nice

    18. ouistitis (16 months ago | reply)

      Beautiful view of the Earth !

    19. This photo was invited and added to the Best Images Ever (ADMIN Approval Only | Award 2 or More) group.

    20. This photo was invited and added to the !A Lot of Water {Post 1 - Award at least 2} CONTEST! group.

    21. Liisamaria (16 months ago | reply)

      This is one of the best images ever!
      You deserve an award from...

      Best Images Ever

    22. rlsuk (16 months ago | reply)

      Wish I was here!

    23. Kasia Sokulska (KasiaBasic) (16 months ago | reply)

      Fascinating how much information one can get when one looks at things from a different perspective.. It's "the whole picture" isn't it?

    24. Déborah Carneiro (16 months ago | reply)

      Stunning.

    25. SUPER218 (16 months ago | reply)

      A nasa É D++++++++++++++++.

    26. Bruce Lemons (16 months ago | reply)

      Gorgeous. Thanks so much for sharing all this regularly!!

    27. Nuno D'Andrea Roque (16 months ago | reply)

      maravilhoso

    28. subarcticmike (6 months ago | reply)

      Earlier on with this image, I once saw someone's note pinned to the thin blue horizon separating Gaia from the pitiless black of outer space. The note should be a paradigm shift for me, thee and all of us. It said -

      .. how delicate the air ..

      What an inspirational photostream! thank you NASA

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