Ask below and we'll reply! The Gulf of Mexico itself and the regions surrounding it are highly biodiverse and feature large fishing economies. What SAT Target Score Should You Be Aiming For? Geography of the Gulf of Mexico. The narrow subtropical sea is 1,130km (700 miles) long and 80-209km (50-130 miles) wide. Both oceans and gulfs are large bodies of saltwater, but gulfs are smaller and are bordered on three sides by land. Ask questions; get answers. The feature known as Horseshoe Basin in the western Gulf of Mexico shows up far more clearly on the new high-resolution map (right). It is widely believed, that the impact that led to the creation of this crater had triggered a series of catastrophic events, which ultimately led to the mass extinction at the end of the Cretaceous Period. Red tide algae blooms in the Gulf have led to large die-offs of marine species, and the Gulf of Mexico is reported to contain one of the highest levels of microplastics in the world. Expect southerly winds, gentle to moderate for the eastern Gulf, and moderate to occasional fresh at the western Gulf. 30A has raised over $3 million for coastal charities, and has given away 4 million of its famous blue 30A stickers. Although BP attempted to activate the rigs blowout preventer (BOP), a fail-safe mechanism designed to close the channel through which oil was drawn, the device malfunctioned. With so much marine life dependent upon the delicate ecosystem the future of the Gulf of Mexico depends on the proper management of resources and conservation of marine life. . In the fall of 2021, nine new sections of reefs totaling 110 square miles were added to the pre-existing zones. Due to its large size and the complex current system, the Gulf of Mexico has a diverse ecology, ranging from the coastal zone, which serves as a nursery for all types of marine life, to the deep waters of the abyssal plain where colonies of deep-sea coral grow on the seafloor. The first . To complete your Gulf of Mexico knowledge, we also go over all the key information you should know about its physical geography and history. She holds a Certificate of Advanced Study in Geographic Information Systems (GIS) from California State University. Though fitted loosely over the BOP and allowing some oil to escape, the cap enabled BP to siphon approximately 15,000 barrels of oil per day to a tanker. The Bay of Campeche (Veracruz), 6. They die when they enter and are preserved by the high salt content, pickled in their tracks! Its shallow, saltier, and serene waters surrounded by velvety quartz sand may seem like another world when compared to the Atlantic's cool and thrilling waves and golden-brown sand. The College Entrance Examination BoardTM does not endorse, nor is it affiliated in any way with the owner or any content of this site. Red snapper are generally found in waters from 30 to 620 feet deep and are one of the most heavily . ACT Writing: 15 Tips to Raise Your Essay Score, How to Get Into Harvard and the Ivy League, Is the ACT easier than the SAT? Once released by the fracture of the core, the natural gas traveled up the Deepwater rigs riser to the platform, where it ignited, killing 11 workers and injuring 17. However, around 300 million years ago, in the late Triassic period, plate tectonics caused rifting within Pangea, and a rich oceanic basin created what is now the worlds largest gulf. The basin is roughly circular in shape and approximately 810 nautical miles (1,500 km) wide. It is enclosed largely by North America. The success of these procedures cleared the way for a bottom kill, considered to be the most likely means of permanently sealing the leak. One hundred miles southeast of Galveston's muddy shoreline, the Gulf of Mexico becomes a dazzling, vibrant blue. Seabirds, fish, and reptiles are abundant, as well as bottlenose dolphins, a large population of sperm whales, and sea turtles. Now that's deep! These hurricanes are either formed or make their way into the Gulf and eventually make landfall in the areas surrounding the Gulf of Mexico. The Sigsbee Deep, 200 miles southeast of Brownsville, Texas, is estimated to be between 12,300 to 14,383 feet. The Alabama Gulf Coast boasts the largest artificial reef program in the nation, with 1,136 square miles of artificial reefs located at the bottom of the Gulf of Mexico. 03 Shaded Relief Images. The Deepwater Horizon oil spill occurred after a surge of natural gas blasted through a concrete core recently installed to seal an oil well for later use. The Sigsbee Deep, for example, is estimated to be between 12,300 and 14,383 feet deep. These include Kemps ridley, loggerhead, green turtle, leatherback, and hawksbill. Fishing is also an important industry and the economies of many states that lie along the Gulf of Mexico are driven by the fishing industry. When did the Deepwater Horizon oil spill happen? Though similar to the failed top kill, mud could be injected at much lower pressures during the static kill because of the stabilizing influence of the capping stack. What does this mean? Climate change that's warming waters further is also making them larger, as in increased intensity and amount of water. The First European Settlement Was at Pensacola Bay, Over 60 Million Americans Live Along the Gulf. Amanda Briney, M.A., is a professional geographer. The average depth of the Gulf of Mexico is 5,299 feet (1,615 meters) and the maximum depth is estimated to be 14,383 feet (4,384 meters). Located close to the Continental Shelf, you'll find waters as deep as 600 feet just 10-12 miles from shore. As an Amazon Associate I earn from qualifying purchases. Click on a 1 degree by 1 degree square for access to low and high resolution images. Nearly all offshore oil and natural gas leasing and development activity currently occurs in the central and western Gulf of Mexico, where thousands of . Since that time thousands of wells have followed. . They are fragile, ancient, and vital to the marine ecosystem. of Mexico before you plan a fishing trip. The Gulf of Mexico is exploited for oil and hence several offshore oil drilling rigs have been drilled for exploration and mining in the Bay of Campeche and the western Gulf region. When the guns fire, they create sound waves that travel down and are reflected back up by the sea floor. There are 7 barrier islands along the northwest portion of the Gulf of Mexico, one of which, South Padre. The basin is located in the southwestern quadrant of the Gulf, with its closest point to the U.S. coast at 200 miles (320km) southeast of Brownsville, Texas. Coral reefs provide a thriving ecosystem that supports significant biodiversity in the Gulf. In Florida, for example, Florida state waters are from shore to 9 nautical miles on the Gulf . Read our guide on transcendentalism for everything you need to know about key transcendentalist beliefs, an overview of the movement's history, and key players. Researchers recently announced that this year the excess fertilizer from farm fields carried to the Gulf of Mexico helped in the development of a low-oxygen, "dead zone" in the Gulf of Mexico that covered an area of 6,952 square miles - the 8th largest ever measured! All major bodies of saltwater, including the oceans, are ocean basins. But it wasnt good enough for biologists who needed a more detailed picture of the area around the 2010 Deepwater Horizon oil spill so they could assess the ecological damage. Natural gas wasnt far behind, comprising 47 percent of the U.S. totals. The Padre Island is the worlds longest barrier island. The Gulf's geologic origin remains uncertain. The fisheries in the Gulf of Mexico are considered to be one of the most productive in the world and the many Gulf Coast States have their economies centered on fishing in the gulf area. The Sigsbee Deep[Note 1] (Mexico basin in the U. S. Board on Geographic Names Advisory Committee on Undersea Features (ACUF) Gazetteer),[1] is a roughly triangular basin that is the deepest part of the Gulf of Mexico named for Commander Charles Dwight Sigsbee, USN, Assistant U. S. Coast and Geodetic Survey, commanding officer of the USC&GS George S. Blake which discovered the feature during its mapping of the Gulf of Mexico. To the north of the Gulf of Mexico are the US states of Alabama, Texas, Florida, Louisiana, and Mississippi. It is a warm Atlantic Ocean current and the warmth of this current is the cause of the formation of devastating Atlantic hurricanes. While the Gulf of Mexico was once the source of colonization and discovery for early explorers, today its known for its four major industries oil and gas, shipping, fishing, and tourism. Boasting some of the worlds most diverse coral reef ecosystems in the Caribbean and Florida, the Gulf of Mexico also is home to black coral, which is the oldest living marine organism currently known. We end with some fun facts about the Gulf (spoiler alert: its home to a lot of sharks!). From April through October 2022, NOAA and a diverse set of collaborators embarked on a set of eight scientific cruises in some of the Gulf of Mexico . How deep is the Gulf of Mexico? The rig's sinking on April 22 began the discharge of oil into the Gulf of Mexico. Look forBeach Happy magazine at Barnes & Noble, Books-A-Million, Publix, Kroger and other major outlets. At least 25 species of shark are found in the Gulf of Mexico region. Watch These Elk Ramming Cars at Yellowstone,, Rare Footage Shows How Killer Whale Packs, Watch a Lioness Save Her Zookeeper When the Male Lion Attacks Him Point-Blank, Watch These Elk Ramming Cars at Yellowstone, and Showing Their True Size, A Clash of Two Lion Prides Ends When This Monster Shows Up, Watch a Gargantuan Komodo Dragon Effortlessly Swallow a Wild Boar in One Gulp, The Largest Great White Sharks Ever Found Off Florida Waters, See Dominator The Largest Crocodile In The World, And As Big As A Rhino, Watch This Huge Komodo Dragon Flex Its Power and Swallow a Shark Whole, Real Life Jaws Spotted 30ft Great White Shark By Boat, The Gulf of Mexico was a trade route dating back to the. Heres why each season begins twice. Gulf of Mexico water temperature: The surface water temperature of the Gulf of Mexico, as recorded in February, varies from 18C in the northern part of the Gulf to about 24C off the Yucatn coast. "IHO-IOC GEBCO Gazetteer of Undersea Feature Names (Microsoft Excel spreadsheet/Adobe PDF document formats)", "Sixteenth Meeting of the GEBCO Sub-committee on Undersea Feature Names (SCUFN)", https://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Sigsbee_Deep&oldid=1009657881, This page was last edited on 1 March 2021, at 17:52. Lines of underwater microphones pulled along the surface behind the ship record how long it takes the reflected waves to reach them, data that can then be translated into topography. The Deepwater Horizon oil spill in pictures, The Perils of Industry: 10 Notable Accidents and Catastrophes, https://www.britannica.com/event/Deepwater-Horizon-oil-spill, National Ocean Service - Deepwater Horizon Oil Spill, Deepwater Horizon oil spill of 2010 - Student Encyclopedia (Ages 11 and up), Deepwater Horizon oil spill: debris and oil, Deepwater Horizon oil spill of 2010: path of the oil, National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration. In addition to this, the Gulf of Mexico provides critical habitats, feeding, and nursery grounds for the five species of endangered sea turtles that reside in its waters. The surface area of the Gulf of California is about 160,000 km2 (or 62,000 square miles). How many miles deep is the Gulf of Mexico? The exploration companies use 3-D seismic imaging to map areas of the Gulf they are interested in. However, there are some areas of the Gulf that are much deeper. The US States that border the Gulf of Mexico are famous for their beautiful beaches. The Gulf is about 1, 000 miles wide, as much as 14, 000 feet deep, and receives runoff from vast areas of the continent. The Joshua Channel (labeled channel-levee) in the eastern Gulf of Mexico stands out clearly on the new high-resolution map of the sea floor. . The use of "Sigsbee" for the feature originates from Commander Charles Dwight Sigsbee's Gulf of Mexico surveys that defined the general features of the body while commanding officer of the USC&GS George S. Blake. Hurricane Harvey is tied with Hurricane Katrina as the costliest in U.S. history. The climate of the Gulf of Mexico region varies from tropical to subtropical type. Its over 600,000 square miles and from east to west it covers 932 miles. Leopard is located in OCS block Alaminos Canyon (AC) 691, approximately 20 miles (32 kilometers) east of the Whale discovery, 20 miles (32 km) south of the recently appraised Blacktip discovery . Because the Gulf of Mexico borders a portion of Mexico, Cuba, and five states Florida, Alabama, Mississippi, Louisiana, and Texas, it is divided into seven regions based on specific geological and geographical factors. below the gulf's surface, with a circumference of 100 feet (30 m) and 12 feet (3.7 m) feet deep, which is four to five times saltier than the rest of the water. Thankfully close to 80% of hurricanes formed lose strength and dissipate before reaching land. Briney, Amanda. Birds were particularly vulnerable to the effects of the Deepwater Horizon oil spill. Here's where to find more lumps to fish in the gulf. As you can clearly see in the image below, this data is much higher resolution than the best available map, which was made in the 1990s. http://articles.latimes.com/2010/apr/23/nation/la-na-oil-rig-20100423, http://www.nytimes.com/2010/04/29/us/29spill.html, http://www.epa.gov/gmpo/about/facts.html#resources, M.A., Geography, California State University - East Bay, B.A., English and Geography, California State University - Sacramento, Fausset, Richard. The addition of an ancillary collection system comprising several devices, also tapped into the BOP, increased the collection rate to approximately 25,000 barrels of oil a day. The Gulf of Mexico is fed by the waters of 33 American rivers, the largest of which is the Mississippi River. It has been estimated by researchers that the Gulf of Mexico was formed as a result of seafloor subsidence, due to the movement of the Tectonic Plates over 300 million years ago. Its called the Gulf of Mexico. BE HONEST!! Two days later, following a series of pressure tests, it was announced that the well was completely sealed. An underwater brine pool off the coast of New Orleans, known as the Hot Tub of Despair, was found in the Gulf of Mexico in 2014. Pilots who live in Florida, and especially on the west coast of Florida, have this problem. These plants provide a safe habitat for numerous fishes, planktons, bivalves, shrimps, manatees, and other marine animals. A National Geographic team has made the first ascent of the remote Mount Michael, looking for a lava lake in the volcanos crater.
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