The novel corona virus SARS-Cov-2 has been paralyzing large parts of the world for weeks. But the pandemic also has positive effects – at least on air quality. Satellite images show that the measures against the spread of viruses reduce nitrogen oxide pollution.
The coronavirus pandemic has led to drastic restrictions on social life in most of the affected countries: in many places, not only universities, schools and kindergartens have been closed to stop the spread of the pathogen. Events must also be canceled, shops and pubs must remain closed. There are assembly bans and the sealing off of entire urban areas. Social contacts should be reduced as much as possible.
All of these measures are not only emotionally a great burden for many. It is already clear that they will also hit the economy hard in the regions affected. It can even be seen from space that a number of industrial companies have shut down their production due to falling demand and that fewer people make their way to work every day.
A few weeks ago, images of the Sentinel 5 satellite from the European Space Agency (ESA) showed that the corona crisis in China had a measurable impact on air pollution with nitrogen oxide pollutants. New images now show this positive effect on air quality for the north of Italy – after China, the country is the nation with the most infected people.
“The decline in nitrogen oxide emissions above the Po level is particularly evident,” says Claus Zehner from ESA. The difference in air quality can be clearly seen on the images shown in January and March 2020. The decrease in traffic and industrial activity due to the corona-related lockdown is most likely the cause of this phenomenon, as the scientist explains.
Nitrogen oxides are air pollutants that are contained in car exhaust gases, for example, and are emitted by power plants and factories. They are considered to be possible triggers of asthma, lung cancer, cardiovascular diseases and other health conditions.