Dissolved Oxygen Maps for Summer 2003
During the summer of 2003 the Long Island Sound Water Quality Monitoring Program continued the modified summertime hypoxia monitoring. The Program collected samples for nutrient analysis and water quality parameters as well as phytoplankton and zooplankton samples from six stations located throughout the Sound. During the summer of 2003 Long Island Sound experienced one of its most severe hypoxic events. The duration was merely average due in large part to a strong wind event on September 2, 2003. The areas affected by low dissolved oxygen were some of the largest we have recorded. The summer of 2003 had the second largest area below 2 mg/L (186 sq. miles) and 3 mg/L (345 sq. miles), second only to 1994. The area affected by dissolved oxygen levels below 1 mg/L (62 sq. miles) was the largest we have recorded since our program began in 1991. Our August 19 - 21 survey had the maximum area affected by hypoxia with D.O. values at our western stations near 0.0 mg/L. Hypoxia was estimated to begin on or about July 5, 2003 and ended on or about September 2, 2003 for a total of 60 days.
(Select map below to link to a larger image)
 September 3-9, 2003 |
 August 19-21, 2003 |
 August 4-8, 2003 | |
 July 24-28, 2003 |
 July 7-9, 2003 | ||