Open AccessGulf of Mexico report card
Author(s) -
Showstack Randy
Publication year - 1999
Publication title -
eos, transactions american geophysical union
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 0.316
H-Index - 86
eISSN - 2324-9250
pISSN - 0096-3941
DOI - 10.1029/99eo00400
Subject(s) - eutrophication , estuary , environmental science , oceanography , sediment , nutrient , ecosystem , hydrology (agriculture) , geography , fishery , geology , ecology , biology , paleontology , geotechnical engineering
The Gulf of Mexico's 4 million km2 drainage area in the United States pours an average of 27,473 cubic meters per second of freshwater into the gulf. Mixed in with that water flow are nutrients and sediment contaminants that affect the health of the gulf. A November 23 report on the ecological condition of U.S. estuaries that drain into the gulf finds that eutrophication is one of the most critical problems facing gulf coastal ecosystems, with many gulf estuaries—particularly those in Louisiana and Texas—showing evidence of pre‐eutrophic or eutrophic conditions.