Methane from Nord Stream leak remained undersea

Following the explosion of the Nord Stream 1 and 2 gas pipelines on September 26, 2022, a substantial portion of released methane dissolved in the Baltic Sea rather than surfacing, according to measurements by researchers from the University of Gothenburg. This is considered one of the largest unnatural methane leaks. Although methane bubbles reached the surface, raising atmospheric levels, between 10,000 to 50,000 tons remained dissolved, says Katarina Abrahamsson, professor of marine chemistry. The environmental impact on the Baltic Sea is yet unknown, pending analysis of plankton samples from the affected area. Further research showed increased bacterial activity over three months due to the methane. After the incident, where the pipelines intended to transport Russian gas to Europe through Germany were damaged by explosions deemed deliberate, investigations by Denmark, Sweden, and Germany ensued; however, Denmark later halted its probe due to insufficient evidence for prosecution.