Hypoxic Water
Definition
Hypoxic water refers to areas in bodies of water where oxygen levels are extremely low. This can occur as a result of algal blooms consuming oxygen or due to other factors like pollution and nutrient runoff.
Analogy
Think of hypoxic water as a suffocating room with very little fresh air. Just like we need oxygen to survive, aquatic organisms also require sufficient oxygen levels in the water to thrive.
Related terms
Anoxia: A complete absence of oxygen in a body of water, which is even more severe than hypoxia.
Oxygen Depletion: The process by which dissolved oxygen levels decrease in a body of water, leading to hypoxia or anoxia.
Estuarine Hypoxia: Hypoxic conditions specifically occurring in estuaries, where freshwater and saltwater mix, often caused by excessive nutrient inputs from human activities.
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