An expanding phenomenon in deep oceans is worrying scientists who reported that low oxygen zones existing only in deep oceans were expanding rapidly, especially off the United States Pacific Northwest coast; endangering the ocean ecosystem and food chains.

Zones that are low in oxygen, which are also known as dead zones, since there is almost complete absence of oxygen, have long existed in deep areas in the Pacific, Atlantic and Indian oceans. Those dead zones could be caused by natural factors or by human.

Yet scientists believe that mankind is to blame for this phenomena. The changes our climate have been experiencing are forcing ocean temperatures to rise, disturbing the natural circulation of the ocean water that distributes oxygen across different areas of the ocean.

This phenomenon started expanding rapidly toward the surface such as the Pacific Northwest. Gregory Johnson, an oceanographer with the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration in Seattle said: “The depletion of oxygen levels in all three oceans is striking”.

Therefore, scientist warn that “the oceans' complex undersea ecosystems and fragile food chains could be disrupted”. Francis Chan, a marine researcher at Oregon State said "If the Earth continues to warm, the expectation is we will have lower and lower oxygen levels”.

Over the past 25 years, off Southern California coast, oxygen levels dropped almost 20%, and the drop continues. In some areas off Washington state and Oregon where those dead zones reached, one can see piles of dead sea stars and crabs, while noxious bacteria is believed to be thriving in such conditions.

Jack Barth, an oceanography professor at Oregon State University said: “The real surprise is how this has become the new norm. We are seeing it year after year”. Scientists hope this would be another wakeup call for the world to stop hurting their planet and find quick solutions that could save it before it’s too late.