Journalism of Courage
Methane escaping from the damaged Nord Stream pipelines that run between Russia and Europe is likely to result in the biggest known gas leak to take place over a short period of time and highlights the problem of large methane escapes elsewhere around the world, scientists say. A gas leak from Nord stream 1 is seen in the Swedish economic zone in the Baltic Sea in this picture.(Reuters)
“From what I have seen this is an unprecedented loss to the atmosphere of fossil methane in a very short time from a concentrated source,” said President of the US National Academy of Sciences Marcia McNutt. (Reuters)
There is still uncertainty in estimating total damage, but researchers say vast plumes of this potent greenhouse gas will have significant detrimental impacts on the climate. In Pic: Security walks in front of the landfall facility of the Baltic Sea gas pipeline Nord Stream 2 in Lubmin, Germany. (Reuters)
The gas is a major contributor to climate change, responsible for a significant share of the climate disruption people are already experiencing. (AP Photo)
It is 82.5 times more potent than carbon dioxide at absorbing the sun’s heat and warming the Earth, over the short term. (AP Photo)
Immediate harm to marine life and fisheries in the Baltic Sea and to human health will also result because benzene and other trace chemicals are typically present in natural gas, researchers say. In Pic: Danish ships monitor the gas leak in the Baltic Sea off the coast of Denmark (Reuters)
“This will probably be the biggest gas leak ever, in terms of its rate,” said Stanford University climate scientist Rob Jackson. (Reuters)
The velocity of the gas erupting from four documented leaks in the pipelines — which the North Atlantic Treaty Organization has attributed to sabotage — is part of what makes the impacts severe. (AP Photo)
Scientists estimate that between 50% and nearly 100% of total methane emitted from the pipeline will reach the atmosphere. (AP Photo)
In the meantime, it’s nearly impossible for anyone to approach the highly flammable plume to attempt to curb the release of gas, which energy experts estimate may continue until Sunday. In Pic: Russian United Nations Ambassador Vasily Nebenzya shows a news image of a huge methane leak, as he addresses a U.N. Security Council meeting on the Baltic Sea pipeline damage. (AP Photo)
