Inspenet, September 30, 2023.
A group of scientists from two Swedish universities has identified a significant methane emission covering an area of 20 km 2 in the Landsort basin, the deepest region of the Baltic Sea, according to a statement issued by Stockholm University.
Methane comes from a deep region
The detection of this emission occurred during an expedition by researchers from Linnaeus University and Stockholm University, whose objective was to study methane and its origin in the depths of the Baltic Sea, in particular, in the Landsort basin. The identified gas is located at a depth of approximately 400 meters, according to the information provided.
“We know that methane gas can bubble out from shallow coastal bottoms in the Baltic Sea, but I have never seen such intense bubble outflow and definitely not from such a deep place,” said Christian Stanne, associate professor of marine geophysics at Stockholm University.
Over the course of the expedition, researchers collected numerous sediment and water samples. By analyzing these samples, it is hoped that scientists will be able to understand the reasons behind this considerable leak at that specific location.
It is important to mention that methane leaks into the sea represent a growing environmental problem, since these emissions contribute significantly to global warming. Detecting and understanding these leaks is critical to addressing the environmental and climate impacts they entail, requiring thorough investigation and effective mitigation measures.
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