Methane spread from Nord Stream leak raises environmental fears

Researchers from the University of Gothenburg and the Voice of the Ocean Foundation have conducted studies revealing that methane from the Nord Stream gas leak has dispersed across a significant part of the southern Baltic Sea.

- The results of our measurements show that methane spread to large parts of the southern Baltic Sea, from the coast of Danish Zealand in the west, to the Polish Gulf of Gdansk in the east, - stated Martin Mohrmann from the Voice of the Ocean Foundation, quoted by the University of Gothenburg.

A significant portion of the methane has entered the atmosphere, while the rest remains under the surface of the Baltic Sea, spreading through ocean currents. Research published in "Nature Communications" indicates that over 14 percent of the entire Baltic Sea was exposed to methane levels five times higher than normal.

In the initial days following the Nord Stream explosion, methane levels in the Baltic waters reached up to 1000 times the usual levels. Methane reached 23 marine protected areas, and its impact on ecosystems is still to be scrutinised.

- It was gratifying to see how well it matched the results from University of Gothenburg's research vessel's expedition to the Nord Stream leak area too, - noted Bastien Queste, an oceanographer from the University of Gothenburg.

On 26th September 2022, three of the four pipelines of Nord Stream 1 and 2 were destroyed at a depth of about 80 metres in the Baltic Sea.

For years, Nord Stream 1 supplied Russian natural gas to Germany, although the project was criticised by many European countries. During Russia's invasion of Ukraine, Moscow suspended deliveries, and Nord Stream 2 was not launched due to political conflicts.

Germany suspects that Ukraine is responsible for the destruction of the pipelines.