Dataset: Water column methane, methane oxidation, and pmoA gene copies above southern California methane seeps determined from samples collected on R/V Atlantis cruise AT50-12 in July 2023

Abstract

Marine methane (CH₄) seeps are dynamic biogeochemical systems that modulate carbon cycling and support high-biomass communities through microbial methane (CH₄) oxidation. While most CH₄ is consumed anaerobically in sediments, a fraction enters the water column, where aerobic methanotrophs form a biological filter limiting CH₄ flux to the atmosphere. However, the extent to which this microbial activity and CH₄ influence extend beyond visibly active seep zones remains poorly constrained, with impl...