According to a study by Chinese scientists, the explosions at the gas pipelines Nord Stream 1 and 2 are unlikely to have a negative effect on the global climate. In a paper published Friday in the journal Advances in Atmospheric Sciences, researchers from the Chinese Academy of Sciences calculated that up to 0.22 million tons of methane gas escaped during the accident.
This is particularly evident from observations made by research colleagues from the Chinese University of Nanjing, who evaluated high-resolution satellite images. The research team described previous estimates that up to half a million tons of gas could escape as too high.
Gas escapes from leaks over several days
At the end of September, explosions tore several holes in the pipelines in the Baltic Sea. After the blasts, large amounts of gas continuously escaped from various leaks for days. There is a suspicion of sabotage.
Largest gas accident in human history
According to the researchers, the accident was the largest documented methane emission in human history. Only about half of the gas escaped in the previously largest 2015 gas accident at the Aliso Canyon underground gas field in California.
However, according to the researchers, the figures should be seen in relation to each other. The global oil and gas industry alone is said to have emitted up to 70 million tons of methane annually between 2008 and 2017. The gas escaping from the pipelines is responsible for just one day of the sector’s annual emissions, resulting in a barely measurable impact on the climate.
Warming by methane only minimal
The warming of the emitted methane is so minimal that it “cannot be felt in ecosystems or in human society,” concluded physicist Xiaolong Chen, who led the study. Nevertheless, the scientist warned: if humanity is to achieve the goals of the Paris climate agreement, “such damage to infrastructure must be avoided”. After CO2, methane is the second largest driver of global warming.
Sönke Zaehle of the Max Planck Institute in Jena also agrees with the study’s conclusion: “I think that’s absolutely right.” but that there are many such sources that emit long-term methane and therefore have a strong overall impact. According to the expert from the Department of Biogeochemical Signals, this concerns both fossil sources and wetlands such as the thawing permafrost soil.
More complex methods for predicting climate impact
In general, according to Zaehle, the methods used in the study have been established, although there are also more complex methods for estimating the amount of methane and predicting its impact on the climate. However, in other work on the Nord Stream leaks, the scientists came to similar conclusions.
Source: Krone
I’m Wayne Wickman, a professional journalist and author for Today Times Live. My specialty is covering global news and current events, offering readers a unique perspective on the world’s most pressing issues. I’m passionate about storytelling and helping people stay informed on the goings-on of our planet.
