Hypoxia [oxygen depletion] in Queen Charlotte Sound”

[GordMay]

A recent study [1] found that parts of British Columbia's coast are experiencing "alarming" oxygen depletion, a condition known as hypoxia, with events more frequent, and widespread, than previously recorded.
This is a significant threat to marine life, and the study points to climate change as a contributing factor, along with other potential issues, like nutrient pollution from human activities.
The research [1], published in the Journal Global Biochemical Cycles, was led by researchers from the Hakai Institute, and involved other institutions, like the University of British Columbia, and Fisheries and Oceans Canada.

Study lead, and researcher at the Hakai Institute, Sam Stevens, explains [in video, below] the potential impact on marine life, and ocean health.

More about ➥ https://www.biv.com/news/environment...warns-11157057

Video ➥ https://www.cbc.ca/player/play/video/9.6890347

[1] “Dissolved Oxygen Variability on the Canadian Pacific Shelf: Trends, Drivers, and Projections in the Context of Emerging Hypoxia in Queen Charlotte Sound” ~ by S. W. Stevens et al
➥ https://agupubs.onlinelibrary.wiley....s+in+vancouver

“ ... Plain Language Summary
Hypoxia, or low-oxygen conditions detrimental to the health of marine organisms, is becoming more common in the Northeast Pacific. In Queen Charlotte Sound (QCS), a coastal region off Canada's west coast, hypoxic waters were rare before 2020 but were widespread in 2022 and 2023. This study finds that oxygen levels in the region have been declining for decades, likely due to changes in the supply of oxygen-rich water to the coastline from the open Pacific. Local processes, such as the upwelling of deep waters onto the shelf and respiration, also contribute to seasonal and year-to-year changes. If these trends continue as expected, deep waters in QCS will regularly experience hypoxia in coming decades and become largely hypoxic by 2050, with detrimental consequences for marine life and fisheries.

Key Points
Observations of deep water hypoxia have become more common in Queen Charlotte Sound during recent years

Local shelf processes drive high frequency oxygen variability while offshore oxygen supply drives low frequency variability

Regional projections predict more frequent seafloor hypoxia hereafter with larger portions of the deep layer becoming hypoxic by 2050
... ”

[barnakiel]

No good. Less oxygen, less plankton, less fish.


Less fish, less food.


Less food, prices up.


b.