What is Dark Oxygen?
The discovery of dark oxygen has challenged the conventional idea of oxygen being produced requires sunlight. It is generated thousand feet below the ocean surface – without any sunlight or photosynthesis.
This groundbreaking phenomenon was discovered in the Clarion-Clipperton Zone (CCZ) of the Pacific Ocean, a site known for polymetallic nodules.
| Statistic / Fact | Source & Link | Details / Relevance |
|---|---|---|
| 70% of Earth’s oxygen is produced by oceanic phytoplankton | NOAA (National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration) https://oceanservice.noaa.gov/facts/ocean-oxygen.html | Emphasizes how significant this dark oxygen discovery is to known oxygen cycles. |
| Dark oxygen discovered at depths of over 4,000 meters in the CCZ | Nature Geoscience (2024) summary via The Guardian https://www.theguardian.com/environment/2024/apr/15/dark-oxygen-ocean-discovery | Confirms the zone and depth where oxygen was found without sunlight. |
| Clarion-Clipperton Zone spans 4.5 million km² | International Seabed Authority https://isa.org.jm | Highlights the scale of the discovery area and its geopolitical importance. |
| Polymetallic nodules grow 1–10 mm per million years | Scientific American https://www.scientificamerican.com/article/the-slow-growth-of-seafloor-nodules/ | Shows the extreme fragility of these oxygen-producing nodules. |
| Electrochemical reactions on nodules produce nanomolar oxygen levels | Ocean Decade (UNESCO) – Deep Ocean Observing Strategy https://www.oceandecade.org (report overview) | Validates the oxygen generation through non-biological, electrochemical processes. |
| Over 19 companies and countries exploring CCZ for mining | Sustainable Ocean Alliance https://www.soalliance.org/ | Connects environmental concern to economic exploitation. |
| Abyssal temperatures near 2–4°C where oxygen was detected | Deep Sea Hydrothermal Studies – WHOI https://www.whoi.edu | Explains the extreme conditions under which this oxygen is produced. |
How is Oxygen Produced Without Sunlight?
Unlike plants and algae, which release oxygen via photosynthesis, here oxygen is released from polymetallic nodules found on the ocean floor.
Electrochemical Water Splitting Process:
- These nodules resemble lumps of coal.
- Composed of metals like manganese, iron, cobalt, nickel, copper, and lithium.
- The nodules split H₂O molecules into hydrogen and oxygen, even in the absence of light, using natural electrochemical activity.
- This is similar to a natural battery process—electrochemical reactions cause oxygen to be released from water.
Why is the Discovery Important?
1. Challenges the Photosynthesis-Only Oxygen Theory
Until now, oxygen production was thought to occur only through photosynthesis by:
- Oceanic plankton
- Algae and drifting plants
- Photosynthetic bacteria
But this new discovery proves oxygen can be produced without photosynthesis, changing our understanding of Earth’s oxygen sources.
2. Implications for Astrobiology
If oxygen can form in the absence of light, it raises the possibility of life on dark celestial bodies like:
- Europa (a moon of Jupiter)
- Enceladus (a moon of Saturn)
This could reshape space exploration strategies and our understanding of extraterrestrial life.
3. Impact on Deep-Sea Mining Policies
The Clarion-Clipperton Zone is rich in rare-earth metals, making it a target for deep-sea mining.
However, disturbing these oxygen-producing nodules could damage fragile marine ecosystems and alter oxygen availability in abyssal zones.
CITATIONS :
- Nature Geoscience (2024)
- The Guardian
- Ocean Decade (UNESCO)
- Sustainable Ocean Alliance
- Scientific American
