In June, scientists predicted that the Gulf of Mexico's annual dead zone - a subsea region where the water contains too little oxygen to support life - might develop into the biggest ever. In fact, that didn't happen. Owing to the fortuitous arrival of stormy weather, this year's dead zone peaked at about 6,800 square miles, scientists reported on Aug. 1 - big but far from the record behemoth of 9,500 square miles that had been mentioned as distinctly possible.

via Eels Point To Suffocating Gulf Floor - Science News.