Gulf of Mexico

Gulf of Mexico

The Gulf of Mexico is a unique, semi-enclosed sea located between the Yucatan and Florida peninsulas, at the southeast shores of the United States. The Gulf of Mexico borders five of the 50 United States (Alabama, Florida, Louisiana, Mississippi, and Texas), and also Cuba and the eastern part of Mexico. Sometimes it is also called America's Sea. The Straits of Florida divides the Gulf from the Atlantic Ocean, while the Yucatan Channel separates it from the Caribbean Sea. The Gulf of Mexico covers more than 600,000 mi² (almost 1.5 million km²), and in some areas its depth reaches 12,000 ft (3660m), where it is called Sigsbee Deep, or the "Grand Canyon under the sea." About two-thirds of the contiguous United States (31 states between the Rocky Mountains and the Appalachian Mountains) belongs to the watershed area of the Gulf of Mexico, while it receives freshwater from 33 major river systems, and many small rivers , creeks, and streams. This watershed area covers a little less than two million mi²(almost 5 million km²).

The currents in the Gulf of Mexico form a complex system. Its dominant feature is the Caribbean Current, coming from the warm Caribbean Sea by the Yucatan Channel, meandering around in the Gulf, then leaving through the Straits of Florida. Together with the Antilles Current, the Caribbean Current forms the Gulf Stream . The Gulf of Mexico has tides (the ocean waters' response to the Moon's and Sun's gravitational pull) of normally 2 ft (0.6 m) or less.

According to the modified Trewartha climate system, most of the Gulf Coast area is in the subtropical climate region with a summer precipitation maximum. The southern tip of the Yucatan Peninsula belongs to the savanna climate, and between the subtropical and the savanna lies a small area of tropical dry savanna. The hurricane season is between June and November, when hurricanes from the Atlantic Ocean, the Caribbean Sea, or the Gulf of Mexico can damage the Gulf shore, and beyond it. These hurricanes also help to balance the salinity of the water , while also moderating the atmosphere. The Gulf of Mexico plays an important role as a fuel injector for hurricanes before landfall, since major hurricanes are rapidly intensified by passing over deep and warm water.

The Gulf of Mexico has several environmental quality problems originating either from natural processes, or from anthropogenic pollution, or their combination. The problems range from erosion , and topsoil washing from the land into the Gulf, to oil spills and hazardous material spills, or trash washing ashore. These problems not only affect the estuaries, wetlands, and water quality in the Gulf, but have led to problems such as hypoxia (a zone of oxygen-depleted water), declining fish catch, contaminated fish, fish kills, endangered species, and air and water quality problems.

The role of the Gulf of Mexico is complex. The Gulf hosts important ocean currents (the area where hurricanes can gain strength before hitting land). The Gulf of Mexico and the Caribbean area contain some of the most spectacular wildlife in the world. The Gulf also partially supplies moisture for the North American Monsoon, and is also an important area for recreation and commercial fisheries. Many onshore refineries and offshore drilling platforms operate in the Gulf area, and produce about a quarter of the crude oil and almost one third of the natural gas in the United States. The Gulf also links the ports of the five southern states and Mexico with the ocean; about half of all the cargo shipped in and out of the United States travels through the Gulf. The Gulf of Mexico provides food, energy, jobs, recreation, and government revenue, not only benefiting the population on the shoreline of the Gulf, but the whole country.

See also Delta; Dunes; Estuary; Gulf stream; Petroleum extraction; Red tide; Rip current; Seawalls and beach erosion