What are the conditions measured in parts per million (ppm) for hypoxia and anoxia?

Hypoxia and anoxia are terms used to describe conditions related to the levels of dissolved oxygen in aquatic environments. Hypoxia generally refers to low oxygen levels that can stress aquatic life, while anoxia indicates a complete lack of oxygen.

In aquatic systems, hypoxia is often characterized by dissolved oxygen levels at or below 2 ppm, which can be detrimental to many organisms. Anoxia, on the other hand, is defined as having dissolved oxygen levels at 0 ppm, indicating no oxygen is present at all.

Thus, the measurement of 2 ppm for hypoxia accurately captures the threshold where oxygen is critically low but not entirely absent, and the measurement of 0 ppm for anoxia clearly defines the extreme condition where all oxygen is depleted. This understanding is essential for assessing the health of aquatic ecosystems, particularly in areas like coastal Louisiana, which frequently face issues related to oxygen depletion due to various environmental factors.