Satellite Images Reveal A Dramatic Drop In Pollution During The Coronavirus Quarantine
Most of us are likely feeling the effects of the Coronavirus outbreak that is sweeping across the world, be it nurses, doctors, civilians or entire governments. The areas of quarantine are increasing just as the number of infected people rises and it is very hard to have a positive outlook on the future when no one has any answers in regards to it. Well, scientists finally are reporting a positive change, albeit it might not be what we might expect.
According to the European Space Agency (ESA), as well as a handful of independent researchers, nitrogen dioxide emissions have significantly decreased over Italy following the lockdown caused by the spread of COVID-19. The Copernicus Sentinel-5P satellite detected a decline in NO2 emissions signaling the decrease in air pollution, with the most significant change being observed in the northern part of the country.
“The decline in nitrogen dioxide emissions over the Po Valley in northern Italy is particularly evident,” Claus Zehner, ESA’s Copernicus Sentinel-5P mission manager reported. “Although there could be slight variations in the data due to cloud cover and changing weather, we are very confident that the reduction in emissions that we can see, coincides with the lockdown in Italy causing less traffic and industrial activities.”
Scientists and researchers are reporting a significant decrease in NO2 levels above Italy
Image credits: SanGasso
“Copernicus Sentinel-5P Tropomi is the most accurate instrument today that measures air pollution from space. These measurements, globally available thanks to the free and open data policy, provide crucial information for citizens and decision makers,” said Josef Aschbacher, ESA’s Director of Earth Observation Programmes.
The graphs show a gradual decrease in NO2 pollution starting from the 14th of February
With less NO2 traces on the 24th of February
Santiago Gassó, a research associate at NASA, took to Twitter to report on the results of the satellite sensor. He also explained that while fluctuating NO2 emissions are completely normal considering that they differ under such factors as the day of the week, this observed change was definitely significant.
And a significant decrease in March
Image credits: SanGasso
The map showcases NO2 pollution levels on the 8th of February, Saturday
While this one shows the pollution levels on Saturday, March 7
This is the data presented by the European Space Agency (ESA) that shows the same tendency
You can watch the time-lapse from ESA in the video below
Some Italians have also reported a more noticeable change in the environment
Image credits: FolinAlberto
As the canals in Venice become crystal clear due to reduced traffic during the quarantine
Image credits: FolinAlberto
Here’s how people across the world reacted to the story
407Kviews
Share on FacebookIt would be revolutionary if half the people that is now working from home keeps doing it after the quarantine ends, there is no need to pollute and endure traffic if you can do the same work from home. Less stress, less pollution it's a win/win situation i hope it lasts.
I have no doubt that a lot of people are going to ask their bosses or make the decision to work from home.
Load More Replies...I live in Warsaw, capital city of Poland. Unfortunately, I'm not able to work from home - at least not yet - so everyday I have to travel through half the city to my office. We don't have many ill people yet and it is only few days since the government applied any restrictions (we closed schools, universities, some shops and culture centers) - and yet, after just few days, the air in the citty is remarkably cleaner. Actually I kinda like this town the way it is right now - there are less people on the streets, less cars and everything is so tranquil and quiet.
Korea has also been enjoying a cleaner air since the lockout in China and we can feel it on our skin. That's good, sure, but let's not be insensitive. Easy to talk about "mother nature"'s cruelty when you haven't lost anyone dear to you... Anyway, I hope we can learn from this experience and find better ways to keep the environment clean.
I'm very interested to see what Central London looks like now - we have mostly electric buses and trains but the roads are usually awful especially in rush hour.
The unfortunate thing is when countries start back up the environment is going to take a beating
One good thing coming out of this pandemic... BETTER ECOSYSTEMS FOR ALL, ALL OVER THE PLANET. It’s horrible how it has had to happen, but the planet really needed this.
Sadly, once the virus is over and everyone goes back to work, it will probably return to the way it was.
Load More Replies...I believe the hint refers to the environmental management after the crisis, right?
Load More Replies...This virus is an example of nature doing nature at its finest. You have a species ruining the environment for all other species. A natural outcome of that is nature is getting rid of problem. Unfortunately, she doesn't discriminate against those that are causing it and those that are fighting it. Hopefully (but doubtfully) this is a wake up call for humans. We have to learn to coexist with the others we share our planet with. Otherwise nature won't be so gentle next time.
As in China, and you'll see the same shortly in the rest of the EU. Basically the proof that human beings are like Covid for their own planet...
Oh yes, we are. I dearly hope we learn to improve ourselves.
Load More Replies...so basically we could help heal the world just by staying at home? ( etc. emails instead of meetings, video chats instead of meeting in real life. ) So how about we do this even when the coronavirus is gone!
Scary and deadly is covid19 but I think it is the only way mother earth is telling us that she is very sick and that we need to slow down because we are killing her. Maybe this is a message from her that world leaders and decision makers should heed and consider changing our ways. That we should give her a time off, a month once a year and that we should practice working from home so that she can heal and be able to stay healthy for generations to come.
Scary and deadly is the covid19 but this may be mother earth's way of telling us to slow down, I need a break cause I'm sick and getting sicker by the day and you're killing me. World leaders and decision makers should consider this as a strategy to help heal the earth of the toxic human activities, promote work from home and a month time off every year to help earth reboot. This may be able to mitigate the effects of climate change.
After the 9/11 attacks, air travel in the U.S. was suspended for several days. Scientists and meteorologists noticed the changes in the atmosphere within hours after planes stopped flying.
I shared this on FB and almost immediately Facebook censored it. I have the Facebook notification. What gives?
That means that cars and factories are the greatest reason for air polution
i think we need to see that as a spark of hope for a better environment and a reminder that if we all work together and we take a step back from our toxic way of living, we can actually succeed.
The whole world is looking at only the effects and what-ifs of NCOV. We need to focus much more on the positives(however less and far in between they maybe)
Well here is a win-lose situation. Win, the earth may get cleaner with everyone quarantined. Lose, there is a deadly virus that kills people going around.
The Earth is fighting back. Us older people (I am 59) will be killed off by the virus and the young will get to live on it without us. I have every confidence they will do a better job than us.
Then why don't we use fuel-less vehicles [the bike's the best and walking as well]
It would take me 2 hours from home to work on a bicycle (6 hours of walking). Other 2 hours vice versa. It's a pity, though, I love riding my bike.
Load More Replies...It would be revolutionary if half the people that is now working from home keeps doing it after the quarantine ends, there is no need to pollute and endure traffic if you can do the same work from home. Less stress, less pollution it's a win/win situation i hope it lasts.
I have no doubt that a lot of people are going to ask their bosses or make the decision to work from home.
Load More Replies...I live in Warsaw, capital city of Poland. Unfortunately, I'm not able to work from home - at least not yet - so everyday I have to travel through half the city to my office. We don't have many ill people yet and it is only few days since the government applied any restrictions (we closed schools, universities, some shops and culture centers) - and yet, after just few days, the air in the citty is remarkably cleaner. Actually I kinda like this town the way it is right now - there are less people on the streets, less cars and everything is so tranquil and quiet.
Korea has also been enjoying a cleaner air since the lockout in China and we can feel it on our skin. That's good, sure, but let's not be insensitive. Easy to talk about "mother nature"'s cruelty when you haven't lost anyone dear to you... Anyway, I hope we can learn from this experience and find better ways to keep the environment clean.
I'm very interested to see what Central London looks like now - we have mostly electric buses and trains but the roads are usually awful especially in rush hour.
The unfortunate thing is when countries start back up the environment is going to take a beating
One good thing coming out of this pandemic... BETTER ECOSYSTEMS FOR ALL, ALL OVER THE PLANET. It’s horrible how it has had to happen, but the planet really needed this.
Sadly, once the virus is over and everyone goes back to work, it will probably return to the way it was.
Load More Replies...I believe the hint refers to the environmental management after the crisis, right?
Load More Replies...This virus is an example of nature doing nature at its finest. You have a species ruining the environment for all other species. A natural outcome of that is nature is getting rid of problem. Unfortunately, she doesn't discriminate against those that are causing it and those that are fighting it. Hopefully (but doubtfully) this is a wake up call for humans. We have to learn to coexist with the others we share our planet with. Otherwise nature won't be so gentle next time.
As in China, and you'll see the same shortly in the rest of the EU. Basically the proof that human beings are like Covid for their own planet...
Oh yes, we are. I dearly hope we learn to improve ourselves.
Load More Replies...so basically we could help heal the world just by staying at home? ( etc. emails instead of meetings, video chats instead of meeting in real life. ) So how about we do this even when the coronavirus is gone!
Scary and deadly is covid19 but I think it is the only way mother earth is telling us that she is very sick and that we need to slow down because we are killing her. Maybe this is a message from her that world leaders and decision makers should heed and consider changing our ways. That we should give her a time off, a month once a year and that we should practice working from home so that she can heal and be able to stay healthy for generations to come.
Scary and deadly is the covid19 but this may be mother earth's way of telling us to slow down, I need a break cause I'm sick and getting sicker by the day and you're killing me. World leaders and decision makers should consider this as a strategy to help heal the earth of the toxic human activities, promote work from home and a month time off every year to help earth reboot. This may be able to mitigate the effects of climate change.
After the 9/11 attacks, air travel in the U.S. was suspended for several days. Scientists and meteorologists noticed the changes in the atmosphere within hours after planes stopped flying.
I shared this on FB and almost immediately Facebook censored it. I have the Facebook notification. What gives?
That means that cars and factories are the greatest reason for air polution
i think we need to see that as a spark of hope for a better environment and a reminder that if we all work together and we take a step back from our toxic way of living, we can actually succeed.
The whole world is looking at only the effects and what-ifs of NCOV. We need to focus much more on the positives(however less and far in between they maybe)
Well here is a win-lose situation. Win, the earth may get cleaner with everyone quarantined. Lose, there is a deadly virus that kills people going around.
The Earth is fighting back. Us older people (I am 59) will be killed off by the virus and the young will get to live on it without us. I have every confidence they will do a better job than us.
Then why don't we use fuel-less vehicles [the bike's the best and walking as well]
It would take me 2 hours from home to work on a bicycle (6 hours of walking). Other 2 hours vice versa. It's a pity, though, I love riding my bike.
Load More Replies...
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