Gulf 'Dead Zone' Predicted To Set A Record

BATON ROUGE, La. (AP) - Scientists with LSU and the National
Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration say this year's "dead
zone" in the Gulf of Mexico is predicted to be 8,800 square miles,
the largest recorded in history.

Scientists have been measuring the dead zone, or hypoxia, in the
Gulf since 1985.

Hypoxia, low oxygen water that cannot support marine life, forms
each summer when nutrients and nitrogen from fertilizer or urban
runoff get into the Mississippi River.

LSU scientist R. Eugene Turner says this year's record "dead
zone," which is roughly the size of New Jersey, is in large part
due to nitrogen leaking into the Mississippi from a huge increase
in corn planting.

He says the recent increase in corn crops is due to the nation's
increased efforts to find alternative fuel resources, such as
corn-powered ethanol.

(Copyright 2008 by The Associated Press. All Rights Reserved.)