The ocean floor is home to thousands of sea creatures and many plants from the ocean, such as seaweed, kelp, Phytoplankton and marine seagrass. Phytoplankton produce over half of the oxygen we breathe, making the oceans one of Earth’s largest sources of oxygen.

Oceanic plants have existed for around 1.6 billion years, which is as old as the continental shift. The main area where the plants perform photosynthesis is the euphotic zone, which is the uppermost level of the ocean, where there is constant direct contact with sunlight.

How Much Oxygen Do the Plants From the Ocean Produce?

Ocean plants, primarily phytoplankton, are responsible for producing 50-80% of the world’s oxygen. Phytoplankton, along with seaweed and other marine algae, use photosynthesis to convert carbon dioxide and sunlight into oxygen. This oxygen is then released into the atmosphere, playing a crucial role in maintaining the balance of gases that support life on Earth.

While the exact percentage varies depending on ocean health and environmental factors, it’s generally accepted that ocean plants are a major contributor to the planet’s oxygen supply—more than all of the Earth’s forests combined.

How Do Plants From the Ocean Produce Oxygen?

Step 1: Absorb Sunlight

Like plants on the Earth’s surface, oceanic plants also contain chlorophyll-specialised cells that provide pigmentation to these plants and act as a mechanism to capture the energy produced by the sun, and this begins the process of photosynthesis.

Step 2: Splitting Water

The sunlight previously captured is used to carry out a process known as photolysis, where the sun’s light energy is used to split water molecules into oxygen, hydrogen ions and electrons.

(H₂O)= (O₂)+(e⁻)+(H⁺)

The oxygen is released into the air as a gas, while hydrogen ions and electrons are used to produce more energy for the plant.

6(CO₂) + 6(H₂O) + Light Energy =C₆H₁₂O₆

Step 3: Creating Food

The plant takes up carbon dioxide from the water (CO₂). It combines the split hydrogen ions and electrons to produce a type of sugar known as glucose, which the plants from the ocean use to sustain food and energy, maintaining life.

Importance of Oxygen

Oxygen is a mere byproduct of photosynthesis. However, it is crucial for the survival of fish and other marine life that require oxygen to sustain themselves. This process aids not only aquatic life but also generates oxygen levels in the ocean, which has a global impact on maintaining oxygen in the Earth’s atmosphere.

These marine plants not only support marine ecosystems supplying food and energy, but the harsher conditions produced by global warming are wreaking havoc on an already delicate biochemical process.

To maintain steady and plentiful oxygen levels, we must adhere to the call of sustainability and switch over to green, biodegradable and compostable products over single-use plastic that crowds the Euphoric zone.

We as a collective species must take responsibility and care for our plants and ocean that make this planet habitable.

Also Read: Tourism At Risk: The Impact Of Marine Pollution On Tourism