The sabotage of the Nord Stream gas pipelines caused the largest methane emissions in history.

The United Nations defined the accident as: largest methane emission event in history. But the amount thrown out is only a fraction of the total 340 million tons of this gas produced each year by human activities (agriculture and energy, above all).

“This half a million tons will have the same climate impact over the next two decades. annual pollution of eight or nine million cars [de los aproximadamente 1.400 millones de vehículos en activo]“, says Daniel Zavala-Araiza, environmental researcher at EDFE and the University of Utrecht (Netherlands).

methane a very strong greenhouse gas and one of the enemies in the fight against climate change. It is estimated that one tonne could warm the planet 23 times more than its carbon dioxide equivalent, because the latter decomposes sooner.

The emissions will have a significant, measurable impact and need to be taken seriously. But it’s not a disaster, it’s a limited case to solve,” says Xavier Giménez, professor of Environmental Chemistry and scientific communicator at the University of Barcelona.

methane seen from space

pictures Sentinel 2 satellite Prove that the methane leak is large enough to be detected from space, according to a study published by the Polytechnic University of Valencia in conjunction with the United Nations International Methane Observatory (IMEO).

“What’s happening is very bad, and it comes at a time when we urgently need to reduce emissions,” IMEO director Manfredi Caltagirone told Reuters.

Until Nord Stream, the largest methane spill in history was from the Aliso Canyon gas storage facility in California. Between October 23, 2015 and February 18, 2016, 100,000 tons of methane were released into the atmosphere. The accident forced the evacuation of 30,000 people living in the nearby town of Porter Ranch, a Los Angeles County community.

Total methane emissions from Nord Stream may continue to increase, albeit moderately. At number 1, all the gas that has accumulated in the tube has already been consumed, but at number 2 there is a small leak, about 30 meters in diameter, according to the Swedish Coast Guard on Monday. Gazprom confirmed on Monday that the pressure in two pipes of the Nord Stream gas pipeline and one of the two lines of the Nord Stream 2 has stabilized and the leaks have stopped.

various explosions

The rupture of gas pipelines occurred on September 26. Sweden detected seismic motion of 2.3 on the Richter scale at 2:03 amand at 19:04 another similar. They probably corresponded to separate explosions that caused rupture of gas pipelines.

The author is unknown, but everything points to sabotage. The tubes connecting Russia to Germany via the Baltic Sea are difficult to access and are more than 70 meters deep. In addition, fractures occurred at at least four different points. In total, two leaks were found in each gas pipeline, two in the Danish region and two in the Swedish region. all in international waters. Moscow accused the “Anglo-Saxons” of being behind the sabotage, while some Western countries targeted the Kremlin.

Neither of the two gas pipelines was in service when the rupture occurred, but the tubes contained maintenance gas inside. Russian gas giant Gazprom cut off the flow on 1 early September in a move that was interpreted as punishing Moscow for international sanctions stemming from its invasion of Ukraine. Nord Stream 2, a major project to bring Russian gas to Germany, was never completed.

Main methane emissions

Methane emissions have a huge impact on climate change. In total, they make up about 10% of greenhouse gases, but their effects last longer than others such as CO2.

“What the scientific community is telling us is that between now and 2030 halved methane emissions from agriculture, livestock, waste, gas and oil We can prevent a temperature rise of 0.25°C by 2050,” says Zavala-Araiza.

The expert assures that the Baltic Sea is only a certain emission situation, a sudden situation. But there are others that are more subtle and continuous along the value chain of the oil and gas industry. “Many emissions are random and unpredictable, but others come from irresponsibilityHe gives the example of oil tanks that leave the top cap open and release methane; leaks from poorly sealed gas pipelines; or burners in wells that don’t burn and emit gas without rotting. In total, he calculates about 80 million tons of methane emitted by industry.

The United Nations has a special monitoring program for methane emissions, which increasingly includes the use of satellites to monitor emissions of this gas.