Impact of Coronavirus Outbreak on NO2 Pollution Assessed Using TROPOMI and OMI Observations. Issue 11 (5th June 2020)

• Record Type: Journal Article
• Authors: Bauwens, M.; Compernolle, S.; Stavrakou, T.; Müller, J.‐F.; van Gent, J.; Eskes, H.; Levelt, P. F.; van der A, R.; Veefkind, J. P.; Vlietinck, J.; Yu, H.; Zehner, C.
• Is Part Of: Geophysical research letters. Volume 47:Issue 11(2020)
• Page Start: n/a
• Page End: n/a
• Publication Date: 2020-06-05
• Subjects: air quality -- satellite NO2 -- coronavirus outbreak -- lockdown -- emissions; Geophysics -- Periodicals; Planets -- Periodicals; Lunar geology -- Periodicals; 550
• DOI: 10.1029/2020GL087978
• Languages: English
• ISSNs: 0094-8276

Abstract

Abstract: Spaceborne NO2 column observations from two high‐resolution instruments, Tropospheric Monitoring Instrument (TROPOMI) on board Sentinel‐5 Precursor and Ozone Monitoring Instrument (OMI) on Aura, reveal unprecedented NO2 decreases over China, South Korea, western Europe, and the United States as a result of public health measures enforced to contain the coronavirus disease outbreak (Covid‐19) in January–April 2020. The average NO2 column drop over all Chinese cities amounts to −40% relative to the same period in 2019 and reaches up to a factor of ~2 at heavily hit cities, for example, Wuhan, Jinan, while the decreases in western Europe and the United States are also significant (−20% to −38%). In contrast with this, although Iran is also strongly affected by the disease, the observations do not show evidence of lower emissions, reflecting more limited health measures. Key Points: Satellite NO2 data show substantial decreases by 40% on average over Chinese cities due to lockdown measures against the coronavirus outbreak Western Europe and United States display robust NO2 decreases in 2020, 20–38% relative to the same period in 2019 Satellite NO2 data above Iran, a region strongly affected by coronavirus, do not show clear evidence of lower emissions