DARK OXYGEN (Syllabus: GS Paper 3 – Sci & Tech)

Context: Scientists have recently discovered a strange phenomenon, dubbed “dark oxygen” in the deep sea.

Dark Oxygen

• About: Dark Oxygen is being produced in complete darkness thousands of feet below the ocean surface is termed dark oxygen.
• Importance of Discovery:

oTraditional Understanding: Previously believed that oxygen was only produced through photosynthesis, which requires sunlight.

oPrimary Oxygen Producers: Oceanic plankton, drifting plants, algae, and some bacteria, all of which perform photosynthesis.

oDepth Challenge: Production of oxygen at great ocean depths was considered impossible due to insufficient sunlight for photosynthesis.

oNew Source of Oxygen: Oxygen is not being produced by plants at these depths.

oPolymetallic nodules: The oxygen comes out of Polymetallic nodules that are similar in resemblance to lumps of coal.

oElectrochemical Activity: Nodules generate oxygen through electrochemical processes, independent of light.