DEAD IN THE WATER
The Gulf of Oman in the Arabian Sea is the largest marine “dead zone” on the planet. According to new research, it covers an area larger than Scotland.
Dead zones are characterised by unnaturally low oxygen levels, caused by warming seas in conjunction with fertilisers and sewage running off the land.
“Until now, no-one really knew how bad the situation was because piracy and conflicts in the area have made it too dangerous to collect data,” says Bastien Queste of the University of East Anglia, who led the work.
The scientists surveyed the water quality using two small robotic submarines called Seagliders, which patrolled the region for eight months.