euxinia

[ yook-sin-ee-uh ]

noun

, Biology, Environmental Science.

1. anoxia, or depletion of oxygen, in a body of water, along with a high level of hydrogen sulfide, a condition toxic to aquatic organisms: studied for its effects on Proterozoic oceans, euxinia is relatively uncommon today other than in the Black Sea and in certain swamps and fjords:

   How is the prospect of increased oceanic euxinia tied to climate change?

Other Words From

• eux·in·ic adjective

Word History and Origins

Origin of euxinia¹

First recorded in 1950–55; Euxin(e) ( def ) (ancient name for the Black Sea) + -ia ( def )