Did you know that microscopic plants can ultimately lead to vast "dead zones" in our coastal waters? Dead zones, or water with low oxygen, have been increasing throughout the world.Scientists are working hard to learn more about their causes and effects, and to find potential solutions to the problem.

The following web pages are the work of a COSEE Coastal Trends Scientist-Educator Team that conducted research on dead zones at Horn Point Laboratory in Cambridge, MD during the summer of 2008. Browse the tabs or take a COSEE Modules Tour to learn more about dead zones, global and local dead zone trends, and how scientists are studying dead zones. If you are a teacher interested in incorporating dead zone lessons into your science classroom, check out the "Access Classroom Activities" tab. Here you can find a series of activities that meet National Science Education Standards and were created by a teacher with the help of his scientist-educator team.

Credits: Dr. Michael Kemp, Jennifer Bosch, Jeremy Testa, William Gray, Chris Burrell, Dr. Laura Murray, Dr. Tim Carruthers, Joanna Woerner, Cassie Gurbisz, Dr. Adrian Jones, National Science Foundation Chesapeake Bay Environmental Observatory, and National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration Coastal Hypoxia Research Program. These materials were developed and reviewed by teachers. These materials were developed and reviewed by research scientists.