Effects of hurricanes

[alicia-w]

Do tropical storms/hurricanes have any benefit in stirring up the dead zone in the Gulf? The attached article says that the dead zone has now spread, is extending toward Texas and may be responsible for the increase in shark attacks in Texas waters.

http://msnbc.msn.com/id/5595098/

Comments?

[BayouVenteux]

Do tropical storms/hurricanes have any benefit in stirring up the dead zone in the Gulf? The attached article says that the dead zone has now spread, is extending toward Texas and may be responsible for the increase in shark attacks in Texas waters.

Yes. In fact, what is also known as the Gulf of Mexico Hypoxic Zone (off the Louisiana coastline) usually gets broken down in late August into September when the stagnation lessens due to the increasing presence of tropical systems.

Here's one of many informative sites regarding the Dead Zone:

http://www.tulane.edu/~bfleury/envirobi ... adZone.htm

[zoeyann]

Actually I have heard that the dead zone is due to a lack of oxygen in the water, and when tropical cyclones move through they act to kind of stir up the water and eliviate the lack of oxygen