Marine Oxygen Minimum Zones

Marine Oxygen Minimum Zones (OMZs) are regions in the ocean where oxygen levels are extremely low, often due to high biological activity and limited water circulation. These zones typically occur at certain depths, usually between 200 and 1,000 meters, and are influenced by factors like nutrient runoff and stratification of water layers. OMZs impact marine life by making it difficult for many organisms to survive, especially larger fish and invertebrates that rely on ample oxygen. They are important to monitor because expanding OMZs can threaten ocean ecosystems and influence global climate and biogeochemical cycles.