Posted on 06/11/2015 12:07:50 PM PDT by smokingfrog
COLLEGE STATION - Record rainfall totals in many parts of Texas the past few weeks means a record amount of freshwater pouring into the Gulf of Mexico – as high as 10 times the normal rate – and that could lead to huge problems for marine life and commercial fishermen very soon, warns a Texas A&M University oceanographer.
Steve DiMarco, professor of oceanography, says the huge rainfall amounts in the last month mean that such rivers as the Brazos, Trinity, Colorado and others currently are carrying record amounts of water flowing southward to the Gulf, similar to a situation that occurred in 2007 when rivers carried 10 to 20 times the normal seasonal rate of discharge into the Gulf.
“When this happens, the coastal waters become stratified, meaning that the lighter freshwater will stay at the surface and cap the saltier, and heavier, ocean water beneath,” he explains. “Because the salt water is isolated from the atmosphere, oxygen levels in that water will begin to drop.
“That is exactly what is going on right now and in the weeks to come, and when this happens, it almost always means many marine organisms, particularly those that live near and at the ocean bottom, can’t get enough oxygen and they can get sick and die.”
In a “dead zone,” technically called hypoxia, marine life for thousands of square miles become distressed and fish kills can occur. Dead zones have been happening in the Gulf for decades off the Texas-Louisiana coastline, but the record amounts of rain this year could mean a sort of dead zone within a dead zone, DiMarco says.
(Excerpt) Read more at kbtx.com ...
Also check out the Rick Perry poll if you go to the website.
Because never before in the history of the state has there been flooding which found its way to the Gulf of Mexico.
The pressure build-up could push the Florida peninsula out into the Atlantic.
Maybe the EPA will release new regulations limiting the power of God.
The EPA believes it IS G-d, so...
The Colorado empties into the Gulf of Mehico?
I’ll bet the EPA is writing new rules this minute that will require TX to reduce the amount of water flowing into the Gulf. Typical. I remember back in the 70’s when the federal highway speed limit was dropped from 70 to 55 in most places. Evidently, TX placed the new signs 6” too low and the feds said they must raise all the signs or lose federal highway funds. I remember someone saying the were surprised the feds didn’t require TX to lower all the highways by 6”.
Damn you Climate Change!
Will Galveston tip over? ;^)
I can see it now - a new, very expensive government program, employing thousands. Giant ships with huge pipes to pump deep water to the surface and recirculate surface water to the depths. There will, of course, be lucrative government contracts and grants to environmental groups.
We are finding it a bit strange that of all three rivers we’ve recently seen at flood stage - the Colorado, the Guadalupe and the Brazos...that the Brazos is taking a very long time to recede. We even have signs on our freeway (SW Houston) that say “Do Not Stop and Take Pictures”, just before the Brazos bridge.
The Brazos isn’t dammed anywhere (that I know of), to keep water retention high.
Hey, he’s a professor of oceanography, not geography. Cut him some slack.
To be followed by Mustang Island!
Stupid!
It’s not like the Gulf has no outlet. It is not a swamp—it is not stopped up with a giant cork.
These envirowhackos shold all go home to Momma and hide under the bed.
Joking aside, I hope this doesn’t hit the small time commercial fishermen too hard. Those guys work their a**es off.
Yes, there is an eastern Colorado River
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