Scientists estimate that roughly half of the oxygen production on Earth comes from the ocean. The majority of this production is from oceanic plankton — drifting plants, algae, and some bacteria that can photosynthesize. One particular species, Prochlorococcus, is the smallest photosynthetic organism on Earth. But this little bacteria produces up to 20% of the oxygen in our entire biosphere. That’s a higher percentage than all of the tropical rainforests on land combined.
Calculating the exact percentage of oxygen produced in the ocean is difficult because the amounts are constantly changing. Scientists can use satellite imagery to track photosynthesizing plankton and estimate the amount of photosynthesis occurring in the ocean, but satellite imagery cannot tell the whole story. The amount of plankton changes seasonally and in response to changes in the water’s nutrient load, temperature, and other factors. Studies have shown that the amount of oxygen in specific locations varies with time of day and with the tides.
It’s important to remember that although the ocean produces at least 50% of the oxygen on Earth, roughly the same amount is consumed by marine life. Like animals on land, marine animals use oxygen to breathe, and both plants and animals use oxygen for cellular respiration. Oxygen is also consumed when dead plants and animals decay in the ocean. There is also oxygen in the atmosphere which has accumulated over hundreds of millions of years. As land animals, most of the oxygen humans breathe comes from this source.
This is particularly problematic when algal blooms die and the decomposition process uses oxygen faster than it can be replenished. This can create areas of extremely low oxygen concentrations, or hypoxia. These areas are often called dead zones, because the oxygen levels are too low to support most marine life. NOAA’s National Centers for Coastal Ocean Science conducts extensive research and forecasting on algal blooms and hypoxia to lessen the harm done to the ocean ecosystem and human environment.
Scientists estimate that roughly half of the oxygen production on Earth comes from the ocean. The majority of this production is from oceanic plankton — drifting plants, algae, and some bacteria that can photosynthesize. One particular species, Prochlorococcus, is the smallest photosynthetic organism on Earth.
Scientists have long recognized the significance of phytoplankton—microscopic organisms that drift in aquatic environments—due to their ability to photosynthesize. These tiny oceanic algae form the base of the aquatic food web and are estimated to produce around 50% of the oxygen on Earth.
Although rainforests are responsible for about 28% of the oxygen found on Earth, most of it (around 70%) is produced by marine plants that live in it such as phytoplankton or algae. Phytoplankton can turn sunlight into energy in a process called photosynthesis.
That's right—more than half of the oxygen you breathe comes from marine photosynthesizers , like phytoplankton and seaweed. Both use carbon dioxide, water and energy from the sun to make food for themselves, releasing oxygen in the process. In other words, they photosynthesize. And they do it in the ocean.
Oxygen is produced by photosynthesizing organisms that live in the ocean, in fresh water, and on land. These organisms include bacteria, algae and plants. Photosynthesizing algae in the ocean produce around 70% of oxygen in the atmosphere.
Scientists estimate that roughly half of the oxygen production on Earth comes from the ocean. The majority of this production is from oceanic plankton — drifting plants, algae, and some bacteria that can photosynthesize.
Plankton may be small, but these tiny drifters play a huge role in aquatic ecosystems. Many animals, including whales, rely on them for food. Plankton that are plants, known as phytoplankton, grow and get their own energy through photosynthesis and are responsible for producing an estimated 80% of the world's oxygen.
So yes, the ocean is responsible for about 50% of the oxygen produced on the planet. But it's not responsible for 50% of the air we humans breathe. Most of the oxygen produced by the ocean is directly consumed by the microbes and animals that live there, or as plant and animal products fall to the seafloor.
All of earth's oxygen does not come from trees. Rather, the atmospheric oxygen that we depend on as humans comes predominantly from the ocean. According to National Geographic, about 70% of the oxygen in the atmosphere comes from marine plants and plant-like organisms.
Trees and rainforests produce approximately 28% of the oxygen on Earth, so what about the other 72%? Well, that comes from the plant life in the ocean. A minuscule marine plant called phytoplankton alone is responsible for 50% of Earth's oxygen.
Grass is one of the biggest oxygen producers of the planet. It is said that it even produces 3 times more than trees! In fact, a lawn of 2,500 square feet (762m2) produces enough oxygen for a family of four. Grass roots prevent soil erosion.
Pure oxygen can be produced from gasification of biomass using electrolysis and methanol production can occur when it reacts with an equal volume of CO and H2. It has been investigated that when a small amount of water (less than 2%) reacts with hydrogen and carbon monoxide, it results in the production of methanol.
The ocean is blue because water absorbs colors in the red part of the light spectrum. Like a filter, this leaves behind colors in the blue part of the light spectrum for us to see. The ocean may also take on green, red, or other hues as light bounces off of floating sediments and particles in the water.
Trees convert carbon dioxide and water into oxygen through photosynthesis. But the amount of oxygen released often depends on the type of tree and its overall leaf mass, research has found. Trees also help to improve mental health, lower surface temperatures and fight the effects of climate change.
Respiration is also occurring in the surface waters, but the rate of photosynthetic oxygen production is greater than the rate of removal through respiration. It should be noted that even though dissolved oxygen is highest at the surface, there is still far less oxygen in the water than is found in the air.
This layer of ozone at the top of Earth's atmosphere shields land organisms from harmful ultraviolet radiation from the sun. Bottom line: Tiny ocean plants called phytoplankton contribute 50 to 85 percent of the oxygen in Earth's atmosphere.
Close to 2 million different types of animals thrive within or around coral reefs. Coral reefs produce 50% of the world's oxygen while covering only . 0025% of the ocean floor. Along with containing oxygen, coral reefs absorb nearly one-third of the carbon dioxide from burning fossil fuels.
Ocean plants take in the carbon dioxide and give off oxygen, just like land plants. The ocean is great at sucking up CO2 from the air. It absorbs about one-quarter of the CO2 that we humans create when we burn fossil fuels (oil, coal, and natural gas.)
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