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Impact of Coronavirus Outbreak on NO2 Pollution Assessed Using TROPOMI and OMI Observations

Journal Article (2020)
Author(s)

M. Bauwens (Royal Belgian Institute for Space Aeronomy (BIRA-IASB))

S. Compernolle (Royal Belgian Institute for Space Aeronomy (BIRA-IASB))

T. Stavrakou (Royal Belgian Institute for Space Aeronomy (BIRA-IASB))

J. F. Müller (Royal Belgian Institute for Space Aeronomy (BIRA-IASB))

J. van Gent (Royal Belgian Institute for Space Aeronomy (BIRA-IASB))

H. Eskes (Royal Netherlands Meteorological Institute (KNMI))

P. F. Levelt (TU Delft - Atmospheric Remote Sensing, Royal Netherlands Meteorological Institute (KNMI))

R. van der A (Royal Netherlands Meteorological Institute (KNMI))

J. P. Veefkind (Royal Netherlands Meteorological Institute (KNMI))

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Research Group
Atmospheric Remote Sensing
DOI related publication
https://doi.org/10.1029/2020GL087978 Final published version
More Info
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Publication Year
2020
Language
English
Research Group
Atmospheric Remote Sensing
Issue number
11
Volume number
47
Article number
e2020GL087978
Downloads counter
490
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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.