In a report quoted by Dr. Saleh, Isna stated: A significant decrease in oxygen in the Persian Gulf and the Sea of Oman
A wake-up call for southern marine ecosystems
Significant reduction of oxygen in the Persian Gulf and the Sea of Oman
Oxygen, as one of the vital elements for living organisms, plays a key role in marine ecosystems. But the evidence shows that the amount of dissolved oxygen in the waters of the Persian Gulf and the Sea of Oman has decreased drastically, and this issue has brought many concerns about its consequences.
According to Isna, the reduction of oxygen in the waters of the seas is one of the direct results of climate change and human activities. This issue becomes more important especially in the Persian Gulf, which is a closed and limited ecosystem. Dissolved oxygen in water is not only essential for the survival of marine species, but also plays a role in regulating biological and environmental cycles. According to scientific studies, oxygen depletion can have major impacts on biodiversity, food production, and the health of marine ecosystems. Hence, the research done on this topic can help to better understand the reasons for this decrease and find solutions to deal with it.
Global warming and human industrial activities are other factors of oxygen reduction in the waters of the Persian Gulf and the Sea of Oman. These factors cause low-oxygen or even no-oxygen conditions in some areas, which is called hypoxia or anoxia. According to research, these phenomena have been associated with great extinctions throughout the history of the planet, and today, the continuation of the process of industrialization and global warming has increased the risk of this crisis even more. Therefore, it seems necessary to study these changes and examine their impact on marine ecosystems.
In the meantime, Abolfazl Saleh and one of his colleagues from the National Research Institute of Oceanography and Atmospheric Sciences have conducted a research in this field. These researchers have analyzed the situation of dissolved oxygen in the waters of the Persian Gulf and the Sea of Oman by comprehensively reviewing past studies. According to their expertise in the field of chemical and biological oceanography, they have sought to investigate the causes of oxygen reduction and find ways to deal with this problem.
The working method of this research is based on the review and analysis of available data in the field of dissolved oxygen in the waters of the Persian Gulf and the Sea of Oman. By reviewing previous studies and analyzing environmental data, researchers have reached conclusions about the critical situation of these areas. This method allowed them to provide a detailed picture of oxygen changes over time.
The obtained results show that in the Persian Gulf, there are areas with a severe decrease in oxygen. This decrease is observed especially in late summer in the two main western and middle regions of the Persian Gulf. Also, studies show that the amount of dissolved oxygen in the Sea of Oman has also decreased drastically in recent years, and this phenomenon is permanently observed at depths of more than 350 meters.
On the other hand, the researchers found that the reduction of oxygen in these areas is not only an environmental issue. This has negative economic and social effects, especially for people who depend on fishing. The decrease in oxygen causes a decrease in biodiversity and disruption in food chains, which will ultimately lead to a decrease in marine food resources.
The results of this research show that the reduction of oxygen in the Persian Gulf and the Sea of Oman, in addition to environmental damage, has led to the expansion of low-oxygen and even anoxic areas. These changes cause the production of nitrous oxide gas, which has many negative effects on the global climate. Nitrous oxide is a very strong greenhouse gas whose effects are about 300 times greater than carbon dioxide.
The investigations of this research indicate that extensive management measures are needed to deal with this crisis. These measures include reducing the entry of nutrients into the Persian Gulf, reducing greenhouse gas production, and improving fisheries management. Also, continuous monitoring and data analysis is necessary to more accurately identify problems and evaluate the effects of management actions.
These valuable and alarming research results have been published in the "Oceanology" magazine affiliated with the National Research Institute of Oceanography and Atmospheric Sciences. This journal publishes scientific research in the field of oceanography and marine science and publishes similar research on marine ecosystems and environmental changes.