Dead Zone Surprisingly Shrinks This Year | Baton Rouge News

Scientists in the Gulf of Mexico were stunned to find this summer’s dead zone—expected to be massive—was actually tiny, just 1,332 square miles, the second smallest in 40 years. Thanks to Tropical Storm Bertha’s wind and waves, oxygen-rich water was mixed deeper into the Gulf, temporarily reviving life below. While this is great news, experts caution it’s not a fix-all—it’s about long-term trends, not one storm. Pollution from farms and wastewater still fuels the problem, and advocates are pushing Congress for more funding to meet the goal of shrinking the dead zone to under 2,000 square miles by 2035. Even unlikely allies are now teaming up to tackle this ecological crisis. Listen in comfort:Get a discount on a Soli Pillow: http://solipillow.com/discount/dnn. Advertise on DNN:[email protected] This is an automated, high-level news summary based on public reporting.Report issues to [email protected]. View sources & latest updates:https://sources.thednn.ai/495e809764881906