An astonishing 50,000 tonnes of methane unleashed by explosions on the Nord Stream pipelines that pumped Russian gas to the West was trapped in the Baltic Sea, say experts.
Scientists studying the 2022 suspected sabotage say most of the natural gas released by the blast never reached the surface and dissolved in the water.
Experts from Sweden’s University of Gothenburg spent five days sampling water and plankton from the sea around the blasts from their research vessel ‘Skagerak’.
Their study showed, they say, that up to 50,000 tonnes of methane released when the pipelines ruptured never made it to the surface.
A university sytatement from 19th June obtained by Newsflash said: “Much of the methane released into the southern Baltic Sea from the Nord Stream gas pipeline has remained in the water.”
They added: “The methane gas from the pipeline created large bubbles at the water surface and measurements showed elevated levels of methane in the atmosphere.
“But much of the methane never reached the surface and dissolved in the water instead. This is according to a scientific study published in Scientific Reports.”
The university’s Professor of Marine Chemistry Katarina Abrahamsson added: “The methane was spread over large areas and has dissolved in the water, where some is taken care of by bacteria.
“Methane is also normally present in the water, formed during the decomposition of organic material in the bottom sediments.”
But the experts warned that it is too soon to predict the impact of such huge amounts of gas will be to Baltic Sea wildlife and needs futher investigation.
A series of underwater explosions shattered parts of the Nord Stream 1 and Nord Stream 2 pipelines in 2022 at the height of Russia’s invasion of Ukraine.
Both pipelines transport natural gas from Russia to Germany under the Baltic Sea, one of Mowscow’s most lucrative exports.
Denmark, Germany and Sweden launched investigations.
The Swedish and Danish investigations were closed in February 2024 without identifying perpetrators, although both countries said the explosions were the result of sabotage.
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Story By: Joseph Golder, Sub-Editor: Joseph Golder, Agency: Newsflash
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