10.18710/EIFZ2JFerré, BénédicteBénédicteFerré0000-0003-1646-9287UiT The Arctic University of NorwayJansson, PärPärJansson0000-0002-6729-9428UiT The Arctic University of NorwayMoser, ManuelManuelMoser0000-0002-3135-3365UiT The Arctic University of NorwaySerov, PavelPavelSerov0000-0001-6417-9941UiT The Arctic University of NorwayPortnov, AlexeiAlexeiPortnov0000-0003-4930-8308The Ohio State UniversityGraves, CarolynCarolynGraves0000-0003-3050-7702Baltic Sea Research Institute, IOW, GermanyPanieri, GiulianaGiulianaPanieri0000-0001-9411-1729UiT The Arctic University of NorwayGründger, FriederikeFriederikeGründger0000-0002-7386-3603UiT The Arctic University of NorwayBerndt, ChristianChristianBerndt0000-0001-5055-0180GEOMAR Helmholtz Centre for Ocean Research, Kiel, GermanyLehmann, Moritz FMoritz FLehmann0000-0003-0626-5942University of BaselNiemann, HelgeHelgeNiemann0000-0002-3468-8304University of BaselReplication Data for: Reduced methane seepage from Arctic sediments during cold bottom-water conditionsDataverseNO2019Earth and Environmental SciencesMethaneCold seepVariabilityArcticMicrobial oxidationFlareBackscatterOceanSeasonalFerré, BénédicteBénédicteFerréUiT The Arctic University of NorwayUiT The Arctic University of NorwayUiT The Arctic University of NorwayUiT The Arctic University of Norway2016-05-082019-09-232023-09-282016-05-06/2016-05-08Water temperature10.1038/s41561-019-0515-34498560054458298485788875655437261text/plaintext/tab-separated-valuestext/plaintext/tab-separated-valuestext/plaintext/tab-separated-valuestext/plaintext/tab-separated-valuestext/plain3.3CC0 1.0This dataset contains all the necessary data for reproducing the results in the article. "Reduced methane seepage from Arctic sediments during cold bottom-water conditions"<p/> Abstract: Large amounts of methane are trapped within sub-seabed sediments in the Arctic ocean. Seasonal bottom water warming may induce the release of methane from the seafloor, yet methane seepage surveys mainly occur in summer. Here, we compare the seepage activity along the gas hydrate stability limit offshore Svalbard between cold and warm seasons. Hydro-acoustic surveys revealed decreased seepage activity during cold bottom water conditions, with 43 % fewer flares and methane release rates than under warmer conditions. For the first time, we demonstrate that cold seeps “hibernate” during cold seasons when more free methane gas becomes trapped in the sub-seabed sediments. Such a greenhouse gas capacitor increases the potential for methane release during summer months. Seasonal bottom water temperature variations are common in the Arctic continental shelves, and thus methane-seep hibernation is likely a widespread phenomenon underappreciated in previous global methane budgets.West of Svalbard78.578.6666679.3333339.666667Norwegian Research Council223259