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11 Before-And-After Comparisons Show The Positive Effect Of Quarantine And How It’s Reducing Pollution
We live in unprecedented times. One-third of the world is under lockdown, air traffic is down, factories have closed, and our lives are paused. But once you open the window and look up, you’ll notice something different. The sky is clearer and the air feels fresh. Don’t worry, it’s not a cabin fever hallucination.
New scientific data shows that there’s a huge global fall in air pollution. Scientists have found out that there’s been a nitrogen dioxide drop by 54% in Paris, and a fall of nearly 50% in Madrid, Milan, and Rome. Meanwhile, NASA has reported a 30% decrease in air pollution over the Northeast US and up to 30% drop in NO2 In China.
The data is one thing, but seeing the transformation with the naked eye is another! Let's have a look at before and after photographs that show how global lockdown has cleared the skylines.
(h/t: insider)
This post may include affiliate links.
#1
The India Gate War Memorial, New Delhi, India
The India Gate war memorial in New Delhi, India, is pictured on October 17, 2019 (above) and on April 8, 2020 after a 21-day nationwide lockdown (below). Reuters reports that New Delhi is having "the longest spell of clean air on record."
Nitin Bansal 5 years ago
The world is more beautiful without people polluting it
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Toni Ostarcevic 5 years ago
Foggy and cloudy vs. clear and sunny. Pollution is a real problem, but why do you have to exaggerate it to an amount where the comparison becomes totally ridiculous?
Gail Nicholson 5 years ago
You can't compare October - late autumn - with April, late spring - and assume any kind of correlation with what's going on at the time other than the fact that IT'S A DIFFERENT SEASON. Very poor. Compare data from April 2019 and then we might be talking.
Jennifer Sacrison 5 years ago
Some of these photos are misleading cuz they were taken at different times of day.
Dutch VanZandt 5 years ago
Obviously air pollution is a problem thought up by Climate Doomsdayers and has no ill effect on the planet or human beings! Not.
RELATED:
#2
Los Angeles, California
Los Angeles, California is known for notorious smog and traffic. But the view on the bottom shows the San Gabriel Mountains on April 14, 2020. According to Business Insider, the improvement in air pollution is likely a result of fewer planes and cars on the roads.
goldenwood_cottage 5 years ago
These two photos aren't a good comparison. They're not taken from anything like the same angle, or lens focal length. They're also taken at different times of the day. One is shot with the light behind the camera, and one with the light coming across. I'd like to see some real comparative pix.
2WheelTravlr 5 years ago
The before photo was taken September 11, 2002 during a time when LA county had two major fires going, it was also shot with a telephoto lens from a location much further away than the second photo - so the top image is taken through many more layers of particulate.
Ruben Tamayo 5 years ago
The top picture is ancient. The Wiltshire Grand (the tall building with the antennae in the second picture) isn’t even in the first picture. That building was under construction between 2013 and 2018. Which means the top picture predates construction. Also, the air is clear whenever it rains or the Santa Anna winds blow.
Toni Ostarcevic 5 years ago
Uhm, season... and distance??? Fog... becomes denser... with the... distance... Omg. This is so silly...
#3
New Delhi, India
The top photograph of New Delhi, India was on November 8, 2018 and the bottom one was taken on April 8, 2020. The staggering difference may be attributed to the world’s largest lockdown in the country of 1.3 billion people. All factories, markets, shops, and places of worship are now closed, most public transport suspended, and construction work halted as India asks its citizens to stay home and practice social distancing.
sharron lynn parsons 5 years ago
Amazing change, to see it with pollution, how we would prefer to live !!!
Lisa Shelton 5 years ago
That top one looks more like fog and rain than smog. I'd like to see a picture of the rivers though.
Sarah Nunns 5 years ago
I think the contrast would be better seen if both photos were taken in the same month at least.
elfin 5 years ago
The comparisons are not scientifically exact, but they are meaningful. If you showed the same day of the year for your comparison a local storm or fire could make that meaningless.
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The current global drop-off in nitrogen dioxide pollution is one-of-a-kind in recent history. Fei Liu, an air quality researcher at NASA’s Goddard Space Flight Center, has said that “This is the first time I have seen such a dramatic drop-off over such a wide area for a specific event.” The reduction in NO2 pollution was initially detected near Wuhan, from where the coronavirus spread. Soon, it spread across the country and around the world.
Liu recalls a drop in NO2 during the economic recession in 2008 in some countries, but the fall was gradual. A similar reduction was observed around the area of Beijing during the 2008 Olympics, but it was localized around this one city and pollution soon returned to previous levels as the event ended.
#4
Milan, Italy
Milan was named Europe's most polluted city in 2008 and smog remains a recurring problem, according to BBC. But after the air pollution dropped significantly during the lockdown, the city announced an ambitious scheme to reduce car use after the quarantine ends. The bottom photograph of Milan was taken on April 17, 2020, while the top one was taken only four months ago.
arjelio mas 5 years ago
Many people would disagree. They think we should sacrifice our elders for the economy. Imagine how they'll take the idea of modifying their behavior if it doesn't benefit their portfolio exclusively.
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Country Nana 5 years ago
What's with the snowy mountains in the first picture? Where did they go? They look just like the ones in the LA photos.
Aragorn II Elessar 5 years ago
If you mean the Alps, four months earlier would put it in winter. Snow happens in winter. Both are from the same vantage point
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#5
The Grand Canal, Venice, Italy
The Grand Canal in Venice, Italy is seen here pictured on January 6, 2018 (top). But after the lockdown, new photos emerged of the canals looking crystal clear. The city's mayor told CNN that this was due to "less traffic on the canals, allowing the sediment to stay at the bottom." The bottom picture was taken on April 17, 2020.
Marina Nunzi 5 years ago
It is obvious this has nothing to do with pollution, these pictures had been taken in different times of the day or in different seasons.
Vonda Peterson 5 years ago
Please ask yourself, "What if I'm wrong!" Do I have the knowledge and qualifications to discount the statistics of scientists?
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Ozzy Mopsbourne 5 years ago
This is obviously fog. A city of 260 000 people, located at sea, could never have visible air pollution. I know, because I live in a city twice the population of Venice. This is why I hate the media so much. Everything is twisted
Arwen Gunter 5 years ago
I’ve been there on a fog-free, sunny day and I promise that there was pollution haze. I live in a city now that also struggled with pollution haze and smog until it got its pollution levels down.
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Toni Ostarcevic 5 years ago
A little bit of exaggeration is one thing. But exaggerating this much is ridiculous. That's obviously fog.
goldenwood_cottage 5 years ago
I know this spot. One photo is simply dusk on a cloudy day and the other is dawn on a clear day. Not a pollution thing at all. Don't buy the deception.
2WheelTravlr 5 years ago (edited)
Many of these "before" photos are taken late in the afternoon when pollution haze is most noticeable, the "after" photos are morning images.
Lynne Jarche Ford 5 years ago
Venice always looks like that in January, sea mist in the very cold air.
#6
Venice Lagoons
Italy’s efforts to limit the spread of the coronavirus disease has led to a decrease of boat traffic in Venice’s famous waterways—as captured by the Copernicus Sentinel-2 mission. The top image, captured 13 April 2020, shows a distinct lack of boat traffic compared to the image from 19 April 2019.
Johnny Farnen 5 years ago
Clearer water. The light areas are disturbed sediment from boat traffic. It should be noted that the dates are on the wrong pictures. You can see the boats in the bottom one.
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Laura Zaini 5 years ago
now water is crystal clear. I saw today the video of a jrllyfish quietly swimming in the lagoon. it looked like it was swimming in the sky
Toni Ostarcevic 5 years ago
I've meant that the difference in this picture is mostly the dispersed sand and mud that has settled. You can see the effect on any beach after the swimming season. That's no actual pollution. Plastics and chemicals are.
Load More Replies... Carol Tocci 5 years ago
I hope they've finally banned the ocean liners from entering the lagoon. Even without this pandemic Venice is in real danger of constant flooding and pollution.
Nitrogen dioxide is emitted from industrial processes, power plants, and car engines and is believed to aggravate respiratory illnesses. According to Wired, “while not a greenhouse gas itself, the pollutant originated from the same activities and industrial sectors that that are responsible for a large share of the world’s carbon emissions and that drive global heating.”
For that reason, this unprecedented drop in air pollution offers a glimpse into what effects a potential low-carbon economy would have on the Earth. Paul Monks, professor of air pollution at the University of Leicester, called the current crisis “the largest scale experiment ever seen.” And, in fact, “this might give us some hope from something terrible [...] to see what can be achieved.”
#7
North Jakarta, Indonesia
Jakarta is known as one of the smoggiest cities in the world. But the same wreckage of a wooden boat pictured on July 26, 2018 and April 16, 2020 shows a night-and-day difference.
Mumof1 5 years ago
There are no seasons as such in Indoniesia other than Wet and Dry - no such thing as Autumn. Late last year the schools in and around Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia had to close because of the pollution coming in from Indonesia.
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Donna Lawrence 5 years ago
Has a camera or something to take pictures of? Many plants are closed down maybe wantts pictures of cleaner water??
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Yamuna River, New Delhi, India
Last year, once again, India topped the charts of the world's most polluted places as home to 14 of the 20 cities with the most hazardous air. But Yamuna River in New Delhi, India, pictured on April 8, 2020 (bottom), looks unrecognizable compared to the same view from March 21, 2018.
Angel Schilder 5 years ago (edited)
Still wouldn't take a swim in there if they paid me for it.
theenglishbornable 5 years ago (edited)
Its foam I believe, and its toxic according to news articles
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#9
Jakarta, Indonesia
The Jakarta Post reports that the air over the city has become increasingly polluted since 2018, hitting a new low in 2019, when the city was named the fifth-most polluted capital in the world.
But the air quality has improved since the social restrictions were issued in late March. The top picture shows Jakarta’s skyline on July 4, 2019 and the bottom one was taken on April 16, 2020.
Dutch VanZandt 5 years ago
They do build them quickly... a few months have passed between those pictures were taken. The clearer picture has been cut off in the foreground.
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#10
Electricity Pylons, New Delhi, India
CNN reports substantially lower levels of both noxious microscopic particulate (PM 2.5) and of nitrogen dioxide post-lockdown. In New Delhi, the PM 2.5 went down by 71% in a single week. The electricity pylons in New Delhi, India, were photographed on October 30, 2019 (top) and April 13, 2020 (bottom).
Toni Ostarcevic 5 years ago
Guys, seriously. There are extremely polluted places, but don't try to fool people with fog or forest fires.
Nea 5 years ago
I am happy to read your comment. But I am from delhi and the first photo is how i hav seen delhi everday in last 3-4 years. It is pollution. Sad reality of my city.
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Krisztina Hegedüs 5 years ago
While other pictures can be misleading I guarantee you, in Delhi the smog is indeed so bad it looks like a foggy winter day in Budapest. Sometimes even worse. And your clothes and hair will smell after the vist too!
Becca Bankston 5 years ago
The best and most important way to reduce pollution is to gradually and peacefully lower the overall world human population by reducing breeding to no more than 2 children per woman. No one ever mentions this, but it is the big environmental destroying elephant in the room.
Carol Tocci 5 years ago
flocks of birds move about, do not stay in one place all the time.
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#11
Islamabad, Pakistan
The local news source Dawn reported on April 02 that the quality of air in Islamabad was declining. But the current lockdown decreased the traffic, and visibility has dramatically improved. The view from the Daman-e-Koh point in Islamabad, Pakistan was taken on August 3, 2017 (above) and the recent one was pictured on April 20, 2020 (below).
WilvanderHeijden 5 years ago
You missed the absence of pollution? Look, no people!!!
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Toni Ostarcevic 5 years ago
Uhm, only the Pakistani are gone? This looks more like a racist pun...
Add New Image
What do you think ?
Mike Crow 5 years ago
Pollution levels are a lot lower but I don’t think these pictures are the best illustrating it.
Matthew Smith 5 years ago
Sadly I don't have any evidence but I've noticed that I can see London a lot clearer from a point in South London, (Top of Gypsy Hill in Norwood). Also due to the reduced pollution in London I feel a lot better, the difference is really noticeable. (FYI I'm a key worker doing deliveries)
Sarah Brinsfield 5 years ago
Happy 50th Earth Day 2020 Everyone! Not the direction that I thought we were going but allowing The Earth to heal is important. We only have her. Start giving her rights and everything changes.
Dutch VanZandt 5 years ago
Regardless of when the comparison photos (earlier ones) were taken, there is a clear difference in the appearance of the sky. The pre-Covid19 pictures show the air to be dirtier with polluting particles... the ones you don't normally notice when you are in the midst of the smog.
Doug 5 years ago
Such a disappointing article. Pollution is lower, but some of these are comparing different times of day, and other things that make it easy to say "Fake". This c**p just arms people who want to deny the improvement or human impact as they can point to these clear fakes and have many people then think that even the real ones are fake. Clearly, put together by someone who just wants a brief bit of shock & awe attention rather than someone who cares. Or, someone on the right just building themselves an arsenal.
Philippa Ruth 5 years ago
You didn't "compile a list of before and after photographs..." Don't take credit for it when it's so easily copied https://www.insider.com/before-after-photos-show-less-air-pollution-during-pandemic-lockdown
kitty.boom 5 years ago
Working in a high rise building, we see those pollutions daily. Every morning during rush hours, one side is so foggy, to the point you think the gray skies will be giving rain soon. While on the other side, the less traveled road/highway, you can see the clear blue sky and the beaming sun.
Kathy Baylis 5 years ago
Totally the best argument—-with incontrovertible proof!—-for creating more telecommuting jobs, and converting as many existing jobs to telecommute jobs, than we’ve ever seen before! Maybe it’ll incentivize comp aides to trust their employees more and allow them to work at home at least a majority of the week! (Hey, I can dream, can’t I?)
Daria B 5 years ago (edited)
Yes, you can dream. You and I can dream. I am one of those office workers with a job that was/could be organised the way you describe it, and, sadly, it's not like they trust us more. But at least our office doesn't force us to use a web camera.
Load More Replies... Mike Crow 5 years ago
Pollution levels are a lot lower but I don’t think these pictures are the best illustrating it.
Matthew Smith 5 years ago
Sadly I don't have any evidence but I've noticed that I can see London a lot clearer from a point in South London, (Top of Gypsy Hill in Norwood). Also due to the reduced pollution in London I feel a lot better, the difference is really noticeable. (FYI I'm a key worker doing deliveries)
Sarah Brinsfield 5 years ago
Happy 50th Earth Day 2020 Everyone! Not the direction that I thought we were going but allowing The Earth to heal is important. We only have her. Start giving her rights and everything changes.
Dutch VanZandt 5 years ago
Regardless of when the comparison photos (earlier ones) were taken, there is a clear difference in the appearance of the sky. The pre-Covid19 pictures show the air to be dirtier with polluting particles... the ones you don't normally notice when you are in the midst of the smog.
Doug 5 years ago
Such a disappointing article. Pollution is lower, but some of these are comparing different times of day, and other things that make it easy to say "Fake". This c**p just arms people who want to deny the improvement or human impact as they can point to these clear fakes and have many people then think that even the real ones are fake. Clearly, put together by someone who just wants a brief bit of shock & awe attention rather than someone who cares. Or, someone on the right just building themselves an arsenal.
Philippa Ruth 5 years ago
You didn't "compile a list of before and after photographs..." Don't take credit for it when it's so easily copied https://www.insider.com/before-after-photos-show-less-air-pollution-during-pandemic-lockdown
kitty.boom 5 years ago
Working in a high rise building, we see those pollutions daily. Every morning during rush hours, one side is so foggy, to the point you think the gray skies will be giving rain soon. While on the other side, the less traveled road/highway, you can see the clear blue sky and the beaming sun.
Kathy Baylis 5 years ago
Totally the best argument—-with incontrovertible proof!—-for creating more telecommuting jobs, and converting as many existing jobs to telecommute jobs, than we’ve ever seen before! Maybe it’ll incentivize comp aides to trust their employees more and allow them to work at home at least a majority of the week! (Hey, I can dream, can’t I?)
Daria B 5 years ago (edited)
Yes, you can dream. You and I can dream. I am one of those office workers with a job that was/could be organised the way you describe it, and, sadly, it's not like they trust us more. But at least our office doesn't force us to use a web camera.
Load More Replies...
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