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"The size of the Gulf dead zone goes up and down depending on that particular year's weather patterns. But the bottom line is that we will never reach the action plan's goal of 1,950 square miles until more serious actions are taken to reduce the loss of Midwest fertilizers to the Mississippi River system, regardless of the weather," Scavia said. Last year, drought upriver cut runoff so drastically that the Gulf of Mexico dead zone was the fourth-smallest on record, less than 2,900 square miles. Michigan scientists had predicted it would cover just under 1,200 square miles while Louisiana, scientists predicted about 6,200 square miles. Both groups said they refined their techniques this year. Scientists will measure this year's Gulf dead zone July 21-28, LUMCON director Nancy Rabalais said. A tropical storm during or within two weeks of that period would reduce its size to as little as 5,344 square miles by mixing oxygen at the surface deep into the water. The Chesapeake Bay measurements will be made public in October after surveys by the Maryland Department of Natural Resources and the Virginia Department of Environmental Quality. ___ Online: University of Michigan hypoxia forecasts: National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration: Louisiana Universities Marine Consortium:
http://snre.umich.edu/scavia/hypoxia-forecasts/
http://www.noaa.gov/
http://www.lumcon.edu/
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