A new high-resolution map of the floor of the Gulf of Mexico was released to the public. Over the centuries, people continued to use the Gulf of Mexico as a source of food and resources, as well as for navigation. This region consists of about 1,394 miles (2,243 km) of coastline. 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. 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. Every day, 30A shares Beach Happy stories and eco-conscious products with millions of fans worldwide. The floor of the Gulf of Mexico is one of the most geologically interesting stretches of the Earth's surface. The oil well over which it was positioned was located on the seabed 4,993 feet (1,522 metres) below the surface and extended approximately 18,000 feet (5,486 metres) into the rock. Every year, millions of birds migrate during fall, and many of them fly over the Gulf of Mexico during their trip. They took all the best survey data from more than 200 individual maps made by exploration companies of parts of the Gulf and combined them into a map of the whole region with resolution of around 1,600 square feet per pixel about the size of the average American family home. Retrieved from https://www.thoughtco.com/geography-of-the-gulf-of-mexico-1435544. The roughly 5,000-year-old human remains were found in graves from the Yamnaya culture, and the discovery may partially explain their rapid expansion throughout Europe. The accident resulted in the deaths of 11 workers and caused a massive, ongoing oil spill into the Gulf of Mexico. It doesnt hurt that a large part of the Gulf is right over the North American Continental Shelves, which means the water is fairly shallow. 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. Right, In addition to impacts to the diversity of marine life living on the seafloor, researchers found a conservative chemical tracer of petroleum in surface seafloor sediments extending 15 miles from the Macondo wellhead (Valentine et al. Ask below and we'll reply! Only a vague outline of this bizarre landscape was visible on the old map, which had a resolution of 27,000 square feet per pixel, actually quite good for the seafloor. 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. Some bivalve species that are found here include oysters, mussels, clams, and scallops. The Gulf of Mexico is an inlet connecting Mexico and the United States to the ocean and is a marginal sea of the Atlantic Ocean. The Gulf of Mexico is one of the most important offshore petroleum . The comparison is based on hull dimensions, including heave plate and structural support construction. How did the Deepwater Horizon oil spill affect birds? Claims by several research groups that subsurface plumes of dispersed hydrocarbons had been detected in May were initially dismissed by BP and the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA). Shrimp and oysters are among the largest fish products that come from the Gulf. Still, there are, 30A's Ultimate Guide to The Florida Panhandle Shipwreck. Some of the important fishes include Albacore tuna, Red snapper, greater amberjack, tarpon, grouper, Atlantic spadefish, king mackerel, Gulf flounder, bluefish, etc. The Gulf of Mexico is a 'sea' and is part of the Atlantic Ocean. A gulf is an inlet of the ocean into the land. The Gulf of Mexico is known for beautiful white-sand beaches and exciting offshore fishing. The most common found around Alabama beaches are bull sharks, great hammerhead sharks, sand tiger sharks and shortfin mako sharks. Covering an area of 1,507,639 km2, the Gulf of Mexico is a marginal sea of the Atlantic Ocean and the worlds largest gulf. The volume of water in the basin is roughly 2.4 10 6 cubic kilometers (5.8 10 5 cubic miles). environmental disaster, Gulf of Mexico [2010]. To the north of the Gulf of Mexico are the US states of Alabama, Texas, Florida, Louisiana, and Mississippi. 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. Old cells hang around as we age, doing damage to the body. She has a wonderful poodle-terrier mix named Nelson, and together, they enjoy long walks, outdoor adventures, and playing with his many toys. Because salt doesnt compact under the weight of overlying layers like sediment does, it ends up being less dense than the sediment above it. 617,800 mi Gulf of Mexico/Area. 7. GMZ001-280215- Synopsis for the Gulf of Mexico 901 AM EST Mon Feb 27 2023 .SYNOPSIS.A ridge will continue to dominate the Gulf waters through Wed night. The shores of the Gulf of Mexico also serve as important habitats for different shorebirds and waterfowls. Amanda Briney, M.A., is a professional geographer. Anglers can check out the most common fish found on Alabamas beaches here. On September 17 the bottom kill maneuver was successfully executed through the first relief well. BE HONEST!! Due to the warm waters, moist air, and strong current of the Gulf Steam when storms originating in the cold waters of the Atlantic Ocean move west and collide it creates the perfect conditions for hurricanes to form. With millions of gallons of oil spilled in the sea, the response effort was large and has lasted for over a decade. 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. The casual observer would need to watch the coral for many years possibly hundreds to notice any difference in its growth, however. Red snapper are generally found in waters from 30 to 620 feet deep and are one of the most heavily . 2. The committee discussion of the United States nomination Mexico Basin as having the exact coordinates of 23 52 N 91 35 W as the Sigsbee Deep under consideration noted the Mexico Basin is in the GEBCO Gazetteer with coordinates of 22 30 N 95 00 W to 25 00 N 90 00 W.[5][Note 2] The issue appears to be one of the entire basin or a particular point within the basin for application of the names. Currently, there are about 27,000 wells, both oil and gas, that have been drilled and abandoned in the Gulf. This year, the Mississippi River flooded for more than 6 months, unprecedented in both length of time and volume of water. The entire basin is about 600,000 square miles (1.5 million sq km). ???? Can we bring a species back from the brink? Now that youre familiar with the Gulf of Mexico, its time to start planning a beach trip to Gulf Shores and Orange Beach! Sigsbee Deep is a variant name for the United States Board on Geographic Names (BGN) approved name of Mexico Basin for cartographic materials produced by Federal agencies. The Gulf of Mexico is shallower, saltier, and warmer than the Atlantic Ocean. 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. Its no secret that the best seafood comes from the Gulf, which is why 75% of the shrimp in the United States comes from the Gulf of Mexico. The bureaus job is to manage exploration and development of the countrys offshore mineral and energy resources. The Gulf of Mexico also features numerous coastal wetlands and mangrove forests. The BP Deepwater Horizon catastrophe in 2010 spilled 205.8 million gallons of oil and 225,000 tons of methane into the Gulf of Mexico. The volume of oil escaping the damaged welloriginally estimated by BP to be about 1,000 barrels per daywas thought by U.S. government officials to have peaked at more than 60,000 barrels per day. It is rumored that they buried some of their stolen loot on the bay. The deepest part of the Gulf of Mexico, Sigsbee Deep, is estimated to be around 14,383 feet deep while the average depth is around 5,300 feet. It is largely surrounded by the continent of North America. Many died from ingesting oil or because it interfered with their ability to regulate their body temperatures. Copyright 2023 Gulf Shores & Orange Beach Tourism. Natural gas wasnt far behind, comprising 47 percent of the U.S. totals. The Sigsbee Deep, for example, is estimated to be between 12,300 and 14,383 feet deep. Ask questions; get answers. Introduction. 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. The surface area of the Gulf of California is about 160,000 km2 (or 62,000 square miles). Some of the significant ones include Blue whale, Brydes whale, Fin whale, Killer whale, Minke whale, Humpback whale, Sperm whale, and Northern right whale. There are also several ships sunk in deep water off the mouth of the Mississippi River by German U-boats during World War II, as well as the only German U-boat sunk in the Northern Gulf by Allied forces, the U-166. We had been planning a trip to run deep into the Gulf, but . It is a warm Atlantic Ocean current and the warmth of this current is the cause of the formation of devastating Atlantic hurricanes. 6. To learn more about the Gulf of Mexico, visit theGulf of Mexico Programfrom the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency. Briney, Amanda. Hurricane Harvey is tied with Hurricane Katrina as the costliest in U.S. history. It is estimated that around 10,000 bottlenose dolphins live in the coastal waters of the Gulf of Mexico. In addition to being home to so many incredible beaches, it is also a very unique region of the world. All rights reserved. The Gulf of Mexico is fed by the waters of 33 American rivers, the largest of which is the Mississippi River. The average depth of the Gulf of Mexico is approximately 1,600 meters, or 5,200 feet. Who owned the rig responsible for the Deepwater Horizon oil spill? The Gulf State Park Fishing and Education Pier is the second-longest pier in the Gulf of Mexico. The deepest point is in the Mexico Basin ( Sigsbee Deep), which is 17,070 feet (5,203 metres) below sea level. Measuring from Florida to the Yucatan, the coastline of the Gulf measures 3,540 miles long and boasts some of the worlds best beaches. Before the Gulf of Mexico exists the landscape was a continuous mountain range that spanned from Central Mexico up to West Texas, Oklahoma, and Alabama where it connected to the Appalachia Mountains. Maybe youre aware that its located along the Gulf coast but dont know the exact boundaries, or maybe youre trying to figure out if its part of the Atlantic Ocean or not. The Gulf of Mexico has a maximum width of 932.06 miles and a surface area of approximately 600,000 square miles. How deep is the Gulf of Mexico? The Gulf of Mexico, under ordinary conditions, has tides of two feet or less, but on the wide and shallow shelf such a variation is quite noticeable. These strange, complex configurations are part of the geology that created the conditions that allowed vast oil deposits to collect. 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. Over 40 species of sharks live in the Gulf of Mexico. The gulfs peculiar history gave rise to a landscape riddled with domes, pockmarks, canyons, faults, and channels all revealed in more detail than ever before by a new 1.4 billion-pixel map. The 30A Company | 30A, Beach Happy and Life Shines are Registered Trademarks, By: Shannon Serpette | Posted Dec 17, 2021, The Five Beachiest Birds to Look for in the Sand and Skies, As a beach lover its likely you know that birds, much like other beach features, are never the same at every beach. 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. Lets look at some unique facts about this body of water. In 2005 Hurricane Katrina swept over the Gulf of Mexico and storm surges caused 53 levees to be breached which flooded 80% of New Orleans. Deep below the surface, salt domes protrude from the seafloor and some of the . As an Amazon Associate I earn from qualifying purchases. It is enclosed largely by North America. The 5 Strategies You Must Be Using to Improve 160+ SAT Points, How to Get a Perfect 1600, by a Perfect Scorer, Free Complete Official SAT Practice Tests. The Sigsbee Deep, 200 miles southeast of Brownsville, Texas, is estimated to be between 12,300 to 14,383 feet. 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. Get Free Guides to Boost Your SAT/ACT Score. It comprises a volume of around 2,500 quadrillions (a real number!) In the paper, Mishonov and his co-authors analyzed the first measurements of bottom nepheloid layers in the central and southern deep waters of the Gulf of Mexico west of the Yucatan peninsula made from Mexican and NOAA research vessels in 2015-2017. Nice beaches and all, and warm for nine months a year, but if youre going anywhere west of about 85 degrees longitude, youll have the argument with yourself about cutting the corner across the Gulf. It is one of the largest bodies of water in the world and it is a part of the Atlantic Ocean. This entailed pumping cement through a channelknown as a relief wellthat paralleled and eventually intersected the original well. The lake gets its foreboding name because of how salty the water is and how most things dont survive it. MarineMax Panama City Beach | MarineMax Fort Walton Beach | MarineMax Pensacola | Grady-White Boats, Posted by 30A on Wednesday, 2 February 2022. Recreational fishing is popular, as are water sports and tourism along the coastal regions. The explosion Some of these Gulf of Mexico sharks include bull sharks, hammerhead sharks, and lemon sharks. At least 25 species of shark are found in the Gulf of Mexico region. The Gulf of Mexico (Golfo de Mxico in Spanish) is located in the Atlantic Ocean, and the majority of it is bordered by the United States and Mexico. 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). Only about 800,000 barrels had been captured. It borders the coasts of Texas, Louisiana, Mississippi, Alabama and Florida as well as the island of Cuba and parts of Mexico. 9. The Padre Island is the worlds longest barrier island. Long COVID patients turn to unproven treatments, Why evenings can be harder on people with dementia, This disease often goes under-diagnosedunless youre white, This sacred site could be Georgias first national park, See glow-in-the-dark mushrooms in Brazils other rainforest, 9 things to know about Holi, Indias most colorful festival, Anyone can discover a fossil on this beach. 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). Some of the notable species include Blacktip shark, Bonnethead shark, Bull shark, Great hammerhead shark, Lemon shark, Nurse shark, and Sand Tiger Shark. On August 3 BP conducted a static kill, a procedure in which drilling mud was pumped into the well through the BOP. Christine graduated from Michigan State University with degrees in Environmental Biology and Geography and received her Master's from Duke University. A mans world? After the discovery of Cuba and Mexico by the early Europeans, Spain had led a military invasion through the Gulf to colonize these areas. Still interested in learning more about the Gulf of Mexico? Cleanup crews attempted to burn the oil off of the water, gather the oil and move it, and block it from hitting the coast. Facts About Marine Life in the Gulf of Mexico, 10 Facts About the Geography of Baja California. The deepest part of the Gulf of Mexico is Sigsbee Deep, which has an estimated depth of around 14,383 feet. Construction of two such wells had begun in May. The Gulf of Mexico is the ninth largest ocean basinin the world, covering almost 600,000 square miles. These islands are Galveston, Follets, Matagorda, St. Josephs (San Jos), Mustang, Padre, and Brazos. With the damaged riser shorn from the LMRPthe top segment of the BOPthe cap was lowered into place. "Flaming Oil Rig Sinks in Gulf of Mexico. Now that's deep! It has been estimated that the Gulf of Mexico yields more shrimp, finfish, and shellfish per year than the New England, Chesapeake, south, and Mid-Atlantic areas combined. We have not only provided the answer to the question here but have also explored more interesting facts about the Gulf. She has taught English and biology in several countries. This involves towing high-powered underwater air guns behind a ship. . depth (ft) Nearby waterbodies (689) The Gulf formed about 300 million years ago, and in all it encompasses 600,000 square miles. Where is the deepest part of the Gulf of Mexico? Oceans, the largest bodies of water in the world, have no exact boundaries, and they are bordered by seas (the Caribbean Sea separates the Gulf of Mexico from the Atlantic Ocean). The economics of the area as well as the environment thus are sensitive to pollution. Were here to help! Brown pelicans and laughing gulls were among the species most affected. You can try your hand at the pirates life with an adventure on a pirate ship cruise in Orange Beach. Without any opposing force, oil began to discharge into the gulf. The western end of the island of Cuba forms a partial barrier to the eastern Gulf of Mexico, where it joins the Caribbean Sea. These complex ecosystems include corals, fish, anemones, sponges, and sea cucumbers-but limited knowledge about these habitats creates challenges for their restoration. It has grown to become one of the worlds most important offshore petroleum production sites, and about 17% of the USs oil comes from there. 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 Gulf of Mexico is an important economic region for all the three countries (Cuba, Mexico, and United States) that border it. Visit the National Saltwater Angler Registry to ensure you are registered. The basin is roughly circular in shape and approximately 810 nautical miles (1,500 km) wide. Nearly half of the basin is compromised of shallow continental-shelf waters and due to the separation from the Atlantic Ocean, there are minimal tidal ranges. Looking for more fun facts? The wetlands here comprise nearly 30% of all wetlands in the United States. A Deep Dive into the United States First Underwater Museum, This article appears in the inaugural issue of 30AsBeach HappyMagazine. 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 .

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