Dead Zone in Bay of Bengal is a Concern
Author : Dr. Mst. Halima Khatun, Research Officer, BIMRAD
10 Apr 2022

The depletion of dissolved oxygen in coastal waters creates a dead zone, the most detrimental anthropogenic threat to marine ecosystems worldwide. Consequently, it disturbs the supporting processes of the marine ecosystem threatening marine lives, including other ecosystem and ecological services such as socioeconomic aspects, fisheries production, water filtration and nutrient cycling. Climate change inducing variables such as temperature, ocean acidification, precipitation, sea-level rise, and wind and storm pattern significantly contribute to the increase of dead zones. Experts reports that 94% of dead zones are in vulnerable climate areas where an increase of 2? C temperature has been predicted by the end of the century. Besides climate drivers, hydrography, nutrient load influencing factors or eutrophication, metabolic effects, stratification, and lower oxygen solubility act through multiple pathways affect the oxygen dynamics of a dead zone.....