Scientists have discovered “dark oxygen” being produced in the deep ocean, apparently by lumps of metal on the seafloor

  • Thread starter Thread starter geordief
  • Start date Start date
  • Tags Tags
    Ocean Oxygen
Click For Summary
The discussion centers around a recent study suggesting that polymetallic nodules on the abyssal seafloor may play a significant role in producing dark oxygen in ocean environments. The research indicates that these nodules, which can have high voltage potentials up to 0.95 V on their surfaces, may facilitate seawater electrolysis, leading to increased oxygen levels. This mechanism is proposed as a potential explanation for the observed phenomena in marine ecosystems. The implications of this finding could be significant for understanding oceanic oxygen dynamics and the role of seabed minerals in biogeochemical processes.
Earth sciences news on Phys.org
geordief said:
https://www.bbc.com/news/articles/c728ven2v9eo

and the other main news websites.

Does anyone have any idea what mechanisms could be involved?
There is an associated paper

https://www.nature.com/articles/s41561-024-01480-8

From the abstract

"(increased O2) we attribute to the polymetallic ( polymetallic nodule-covered abyssal seafloor) nodules. Given high voltage potentials (up to 0.95 V) on nodule surfaces, we hypothesize that seawater electrolysis may contribute to this dark oxygen production."
 
Last edited:
Reply
  • Like
Likes Astranut and geordief

Thread 'Mag 7.6 - 73 km ENE of Misawa, Japan, tsunami warning issued'

M 7.6 - 73 km ENE of Misawa, Japan https://earthquake.usgs.gov/earthquakes/eventpage/us6000rtdt/executive 2025-12-08 14:15:11 (UTC) 40.960°N 142.185°E 53.1 km depth It was however fairly deep (53.1 km depth) as compared to the Great Tohoku earthquake in which the sea floor was displaced. I don't believe a tsunami would be significant. https://earthquake.usgs.gov/earthquakes/eventpage/us6000rtdt/region-info
View full post »

Similar threads

Rare gold coin from 1420s discovered in Newfoundland, Canada
  • · Replies 2 ·
Replies
2
Views
2K
Undergrad Time rondeau crystals, experimental observations
  • · Replies 1 ·
Replies
1
Views
2K
PFAS and Power Lines Cause Cancer?
  • · Replies 37 ·
2
Replies
37
Views
9K
NIH scientists forced to retire or were fired
  • · Replies 4 ·
Replies
4
Views
1K
News Scientists turn CO2 back into coal
  • · Replies 7 ·
Replies
7
Views
3K
High School How do the candidates for Dark Energy 'work'?
  • · Replies 4 ·
Replies
4
Views
2K
"Humpty-Dumpty" particle (Eggeron) discovered at CERN on April 1st, 2018
  • · Replies 5 ·
Replies
5
Views
3K
Sad adieu to Botanic Man, David Bellamy
  • · Replies 2 ·
Replies
2
Views
2K
Undergrad Dark Matter Disc Evidence: New Possibilities in Milky Way Galaxy
  • · Replies 4 ·
Replies
4
Views
2K
Graduate "The 7 Strangest Coincidences in the Laws of Nature" (S. Hossenfelder)
  • · Replies 62 ·
3
Replies
62
Views
10K