The dead zone is a blob of oxygen-deprived oxygen water that stretches down the Louisiana and Texas coastline. It has blighted the Gulf of Mexico for at least the half-past century. From the Mississippi River to the Sabine River you an area of essentially dead water.The water has something called hypoxia.
Hypoxia basically means death to all the clams, sea stars, polychaete worms, and nudibranchs. Water that is less than 2 milligrams of oxygen per liter it is considered hypoxic and it is not able to support life. Species that are not fast enough usually die. Ocean organisms that are able to swim fast enough leave the area. But if the low-oxygen zone lasts to long the creatures have no choice. It is said that if this keeps going you can lose an entire species. These species might be endemic that live in just that specific area. Crews stick a water catcher that closes as soon as it hits the floor into the water. They test it for salinity, turbidity or cloudiness, temperature, and dissolved oxygen which reveals whether or not they entered the dead zone. The dead zone last up to at least six months. But people wonder if thats the extent of the damage. They occur around the world not only in the Gulf of Mexico. The United Nations have found 146 zones like this. These range from less than 1 square mile to 45,000 square miles.
They can be reversed but the things you have to do are sometimes drastic. But it is our best interest to try to prevent dead zones because they may cause species that are important to our survival, and the survival of future generations.
endemic-Of or relating to a disease or anything resembiling a disease present in a particular area.
hypoxic-Deficiency in the amount of oxygen reaching body tissues.
Wednesday, October 15, 2008
Bonfire
I feel like something that we have done for years just does not matter anymore. People make traditions so they can be kept going by the next class of students. I feel bad for the seniors this year for being the first senior class not to have a bonfire. When the bonfire is one of the most important traditions for the seniors here. I have been living here nearly all my life and the bonfire has always happened. I moved away for two years and I was starting to look forward to it again. Even though a tradition is dieing one might be being born. This give this year's seniors a chance to become legends for making another great tradition.Seniors try to leave their mark and this gives them a genuine chance.
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