Beginning in 1985, several research cruises were conducted by our research team to assess the spatial and temporal extent, intensity, and potential causes of oxygen depletion in the northern Gulf of Mexico. Hypoxic bottom waters were studied along two transects in and near the Mississippi River Delta Bight in 1985 and 1986. In addition, shelf-wide cruises were conducted from the Mississippi River to the Texas border during July of both years. The intent of these cruises was to provide comparative information on the temporal variability of oxygen-depleted bottom waters on the Louisiana shelf.
The bi-weekly cruises along the southeastern Louisiana shelf were discontinued in 1987. A shelf-wide cruise, however, was conducted in July, 1987 to continue the studies of temporal variability on the Louisiana shelf. The cruise was conducted on the R/V Pelican from July 1 through July 5
