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Airborne observations reveal the fate of the methane from the Nord Stream pipelines

Author

Listed:
  • Friedemann Reum

    (Institut für Physik der Atmosphäre)

  • Julia Marshall

    (Institut für Physik der Atmosphäre)

  • Henry C. Bittig

    (Leibniz Institute for Baltic Sea Research Warnemünde)

  • Lutz Bretschneider

    (Institute of Flight Guidance)

  • Göran Broström

    (Department of Marine Sciences)

  • Anusha L. Dissanayake

    (EnvSoln)

  • Theo Glauch

    (Institut für Physik der Atmosphäre
    Institute of Environmental Physics)

  • Klaus-Dirk Gottschaldt

    (Institut für Physik der Atmosphäre)

  • Jonas Gros

    (Independent Researcher)

  • Heidi Huntrieser

    (Institut für Physik der Atmosphäre)

  • Astrid Lampert

    (Institute of Flight Guidance)

  • Michael Lichtenstern

    (Institut für Physik der Atmosphäre)

  • Scot M. Miller

    (Johns Hopkins University)

  • Martin Mohrmann

    (Department of Marine Sciences
    Voice of the Ocean)

  • Falk Pätzold

    (Institute of Flight Guidance)

  • Magdalena Pühl

    (Institut für Physik der Atmosphäre)

  • Gregor Rehder

    (Leibniz Institute for Baltic Sea Research Warnemünde)

  • Anke Roiger

    (Institut für Physik der Atmosphäre)

Abstract

The Nord Stream pipeline leaks on 26 September 2022 released 465 ± 20 kt of methane into the atmosphere, which is the largest recorded transient anthropogenic methane emission event. While most of the gas escaped directly to the atmosphere, a fraction dissolved in the water. So far, studies on the fate of this dissolved methane rely on pipeline volumetric estimates or spatially sparse concentration measurements and ocean models. Here, we use atmospheric measurements with broad spatial coverage obtained from an airborne platform to estimate outgassing of 19-48 t h−1 on 5 October 2022. Our results broadly agree with ocean models but reveal uncertainties such as inaccuracies in their spatial emission distribution. Thus, we provide a data-driven constraint on the fate of the methane from the Nord Stream pipelines in the Baltic Sea. These results demonstrate the benefit of a fast-response airborne mission to track a dynamic methane emission event.

Suggested Citation

  • Friedemann Reum & Julia Marshall & Henry C. Bittig & Lutz Bretschneider & Göran Broström & Anusha L. Dissanayake & Theo Glauch & Klaus-Dirk Gottschaldt & Jonas Gros & Heidi Huntrieser & Astrid Lampert, 2025. "Airborne observations reveal the fate of the methane from the Nord Stream pipelines," Nature Communications, Nature, vol. 16(1), pages 1-11, December.
    • Handle: RePEc:nat:natcom:v:16:y:2025:i:1:d:10.1038_s41467-024-53780-7
    DOI: 10.1038/s41467-024-53780-7
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    References listed on IDEAS

    as
    1. Evan D. Sherwin & Jeffrey S. Rutherford & Zhan Zhang & Yuanlei Chen & Erin B. Wetherley & Petr V. Yakovlev & Elena S. F. Berman & Brian B. Jones & Daniel H. Cusworth & Andrew K. Thorpe & Alana K. Ayas, 2024. "US oil and gas system emissions from nearly one million aerial site measurements," Nature, Nature, vol. 627(8003), pages 328-334, March.
    2. Martin Mohrmann & Louise C. Biddle & Gregor Rehder & Henry C. Bittig & Bastien Y. Queste, 2025. "Nord Stream methane leaks spread across 14% of Baltic waters," Nature Communications, Nature, vol. 16(1), pages 1-8, December.
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