With reference to the planet Earth, consider the following statements: Rain forests produce more oxygen than that produced by oceans. Marine phytoplankton and photosynthetic bacteria produce about 50% of world's oxygen. Well-oxygenated surface water contains several folds higher oxygen than that in atmospheric air. Which of the statements given above is/are correct?

II only Why is Statement I wrong and Statement II correct? Oceans generate roughly 50% of global oxygen via oceanic plankton — drifting plants, algae, and some bacteria that can photosynthesize. A single bacteria, Prochlorococcus, the smallest photosynthetic organism on Earth, produces up to 20% of the biosphere's oxygen, vastly outpacing all tropical rainforests combined. While oceans produce massive amounts of oxygen, respiration by marine plants and animals and the decay of marine plants and animals also consume roughly half of it. Why is Statement III wrong? Oxygen is far less abundant in water than in air. Atmospheric air contains about 21% oxygen, whereas water contains only about 0.001% dissolved oxygen (which fluctuates based on temperature, salinity, living organisms, and pollutants)

Primary Oxygen Sources: Oceans vs. Rainforests | | Chary's Lectures on PYQs & Polity

Geography › Physical Geography (World) Year 2025 Q. 2 2 of 64 in this theme

With reference to the planet Earth, consider the following statements:

Rain forests produce more oxygen than that produced by oceans.
Marine phytoplankton and photosynthetic bacteria produce about 50% of world’s oxygen.
Well-oxygenated surface water contains several folds higher oxygen than that in atmospheric air.

Which of the statements given above is/are correct?

(a) I and II
(b) II only
(c) I and III
(d) None of the above statements is correct