Weather & Science
Nord Stream Gas Leaks May Be a New Disaster for the Climate
- Germany estimates 300,000 metric tons of methane escapes
- Scientists speculate it could be one of the worst leaks ever
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The 700-meter wide pool of bubbling water in the Baltic Sea caused by the rupture of the Nord Stream gas pipelines points to a climate disaster.
It’s the most visible of three major gas leaks emanating from the pipelines connecting Russia to Europe. Germany estimated that about 300,000 metric tons of methane, one of the most powerful greenhouse gases, entered the atmosphere as a result of the releases. That amount of the gas would have roughly the same climate impact over a 20-year period as the annual emissions from about 5.48 million US cars.