Context:
About 42% of crude oil production and 53% of natural gas output in the U.S. Gulf of Mexico were shut last week in the wake of Hurricane Francine.
Background: –
Francine tore through the U.S. Gulf of Mexico’s prime oil and gas producing areas and slammed into the Louisiana coast as a Category 2 hurricane.
About Gulf of Mexico
- The Gulf of Mexico is a large ocean basin and a marginal sea of the Atlantic Ocean, bordered by the United States, Mexico, and Cuba.
Geography and Size
Area & Depth: Approximately 1.55 million square kilometers in area. The average depth is about 1,615 meters, with the deepest point, the Sigsbee Deep, reaching around 4,384 meters.
Shape: Roughly oval, the Gulf is about 1,500 kilometers wide.
Boundaries
- North and Northeast: Bordered by the U.S. states of Texas, Louisiana, Mississippi, Alabama, and Florida.
- South and Southwest: Bordered by the Mexican states.
- Southeast: Bordered by Cuba
Hydrology
- Major Rivers: The Mississippi River and the Rio Grande are the primary rivers draining into the Gulf.
- Connections: Linked to the Atlantic Ocean through the Straits of Florida and to the Caribbean Sea via the Yucatán Channel.
Climate and Currents
- Climate: Ranges from tropical to subtropical. The Gulf Stream, a warm and swift Atlantic ocean current, originates here.
- Water Temperature: Surface temperatures vary from 18°C in the northern parts during winter to about 32°C in the summer.
- Hurricanes: The warm waters of the Gulf are a breeding ground for powerful hurricanes, particularly during the hurricane season from June to November.
Ecological and Economic Importance
- Biodiversity: Home to diverse marine life, including fish, crustaceans, and coral reefs.
- Oil and Gas: One of the world’s most important offshore petroleum production regions, contributing significantly to the U.S. oil supply.
- Fisheries: Supports a robust fishing industry, providing shrimp, oysters, and various fish species.
Environmental Concerns
- Pollution: Oil spills, such as the Deepwater Horizon spill in 2010, have had significant environmental impacts.
- Dead Zones: Areas with low oxygen levels, primarily due to agricultural runoff, affecting marine life.
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