Locating the Nordstream explosions without a velocity model using polarization analysis

TL;DR

This study employs a polarization-based seismic location method, originally designed for marsquakes, to identify the source of Nordstream pipeline explosions without relying on a velocity model, revealing details about the events and their aftermath.

Contribution

It demonstrates the application of a velocity-model-free polarization analysis to locate underwater explosions, providing new insights into the Nordstream leaks.

Findings

Two largest seismic events linked to methane plumes on surface

Events located within 10-60 km uncertainty range

Seismic energy emitted for at least ten minutes post-explosion

Abstract

The seismic events that preceded the leaks in the Nordstream pipelines in the Baltic Sea have been interpreted as explosions on the seabed, most likely man-made. We use a polarization-based location method initially developed for marsquakes to locate the source region without a subsurface velocity model. We show that the 2 largest seismic events can be unambiguously attributed to the methane plumes observed on the sea surface. The two largest events can be located with this method, using 4 and 5 stations located around the source, with location uncertainties of 30km and 10x60km. We can further show that both events emitted seismic energy for at least ten minutes after the initial explosion, indicative of resonances in the water column or the depressurizing pipeline.