Cause of dead zone in Gulf: Tile drainage directly related to nitrate loss
Monday, September 27, 2010 - 12:14
in Earth & Climate
A recent study shows that the most heavily tile-drained areas of North America are also the largest contributing source of nitrate to the Gulf of Mexico, leading to seasonal hypoxia. In the summer of 2010 this dead zone in the Gulf spanned over 7,000 square miles.