Interactive comment on “Microbial activity, methane production, and carbon storage in Early Holocene North Sea peats” by

understudied aspect of C cycle and climate and specifically the area of the North sea investigated here with its sandwiched layer of peat. The carbon pool of the region is estimated and potential emissions calculated. The potential for biological conversion of this carbon pool to CH4 is analysed via microbial taxonomic survey and incubations. This study shows a decoupling between CH4 production and C storage and posits that there is threat of re-coupling.