Oxygene - The Ocean -

), and water to create energy, releasing oxygen as a byproduct. :

: Like land plants, phytoplankton use sunlight, carbon dioxide ( CO2cap C cap O sub 2 Oxygene - The Ocean

The primary source of ocean oxygen is microscopic organisms known as . These tiny, plant-like drifters live in the "photic zone"—the top 200 meters of the ocean where sunlight can reach. ), and water to create energy, releasing oxygen

The ocean is far more than just a body of water; it is often referred to as the "lungs of the planet," responsible for producing roughly of the world's oxygen . While the vast majority of this comes from surface-level photosynthesis, recent groundbreaking discoveries have revealed that the deep ocean also produces its own "dark oxygen". 1. The Surface Engine: Photosynthesis The ocean is far more than just a

: One of the most abundant photosynthetic organisms on Earth; it is estimated that one out of every five breaths we take originates from this single genus of bacteria.

: Single-celled algae that also contribute significantly to the oxygen cycle. Does the ocean produce oxygen?