Question

Which of the following major drainage basins is associated with a high number of areas affected by coastal eutrophication and hypoxia in the United States?

Answer 1

The Gulf of Mexico, located in the northern Gulf of Mexico off the coast of Louisiana and Texas is the largest hypoxic zone in the United States.

Explanation:

Hypoxia causes problem for deltas and coastal waters. The dissolved oxygen concentration is less than 2-3 mg/L. It is caused due to excess nutrients and layering of water body due to saline.

These excess nutrients can promote overgrowth of seaweed and results eutrophication. As the dead algae decomposes, oxygen gets consumed and results low levels of oxygen in the water.

The Gulf of Mexico, located in the northern Gulf of Mexico off the coast of Louisiana and Texas was first documented in 1972. Hypoxia occurs in several places throughout the world. Gulf of Mexico ranks largest hypoxic zone in the United States.