Evidence of Arctic methane emissions across the mid-Pleistocene

Abstract During the Pleistocene, Earth’s climate changed dramatically. The mid-Pleistocene transition (MPT; ~1.3–0.7 million years (Ma)) featured an important ice volume increase at both poles. evolution of large Arctic sheets caused sequestration methane as free gas and hydrates in subseabed sediments. Ice changes, associated with variable pressures temperatures, perturbed those giant reservoirs, causing leakages. Here, we present borehole data from Arctic–Atlantic gateway region, providing foraminiferal stable carbon isotope source-specific biomarker evidence that reveals three main seafloor leakage episodes occurred prior to across transition. By combining hydrate stability modelling, propose tectonic stress changes early build-up wastage during controlled episodic leakages subsurface reservoirs. Our indicate release, showing a potential scenario for vast areas storing are now affected by ongoing decrease.