Satellite Images Reveal A Dramatic Drop In Pollution During The Coronavirus Quarantine
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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
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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.
I hope so..
Better “commute” and less stress, if you think about it.
I think the most stunning bit about the maps (the ESA ones) is that there is that massive blob over northern Italy to begin with. What the hell are they doing there? Look at the rest of Europe - nothing like it. I read an article yesterday about how long term pollution is likely to have damaged the Italians' airways and that is the reason the infection and death rates are so high in that area. We all know China would be the same. The airways dry out from the pollution and there's no longer the mucosal protection to catch the bugs on their way into the body.
The winds from the sea push the air inland but the Alps prevent pollution from escaping the area, the climate there has always been foggy and stagnant. That's also the main industrial area of Italy so there's a lot of pollution to begin with.
Also, the coronavirus won't disappear magically in a couple of months. The quarantine only tries to lower the speed of transmission so that millions of people don't catch the virus at the same time. When quarantine is over it will still be wise to avoid crowded places and being too near people. I think there's going to be a positive change in our mentality. Better for us and for the environment.
Not going to happen, this has been tried often enough already but in the long term it is important for people to get out of the home for a change and meet people at work. And it's important for the company that employees meet and talk to each other as many important ideas come up when people talk in the kitchen while waiting for the coffee. Companies often are designed in a way that employees bump into each other often. Also consider: a lot of manufacturing places shut down now, the workers can't do home office and this is the main cause of pollution. Long term we will have to find another solution than a quarantine and the virus is giving us a chance to rethink quite a lot of things. So hopefully enough people will do that and find solutions.
Sure a lot of people can't do their work at home, but a lot of people could work in office only in some days. Also you can do meetings via webcam ( and if people will use this technology more, sure companies will feel incentivised to improve it). And I think that in the future the majority of peolple could work from home thank to future technological inventions ( maybe I dream to much?)
Previnca, yes in theory that all works. But reality goes into a completely different direction. After all we are humans and need social contact. For example the more automatisation happens in the industry the more demand there is for social jobs because people are longing for interaction and if it's only with the cashier at the supermarket. Replace the cashier with a machine and people will look for social contact somewhere else. Replace the office with home office and people will look for something to compensate that. Part time home office can be a very good thing, especially when you have a family but not everybody is into it and it doesn't work with every office work. Flex / core time is another approach very successful in some branches. There is a whole lot of research done in this area. But in general the dream that home office reduces pollution significant is an illusion, it would do only a little bit so we should focus on where it matters.
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.
same here in austria ..
Just the reduction in traffic from people commuting must be having an effect. We all need to learn from this, realise we can reduce pollution quite easily, and try not to all go back to our exact same ways afterward.
Unfortunately we humans never will learnt. But nature is putting us "on notice": This time, only a few millions will die. Next time, I will get rid of you completely humans. We can do very well without you. Something to think about while we all are in quarantine.
Same here in Sofia, Bulgaria
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.
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.
I hope so..
Better “commute” and less stress, if you think about it.
I think the most stunning bit about the maps (the ESA ones) is that there is that massive blob over northern Italy to begin with. What the hell are they doing there? Look at the rest of Europe - nothing like it. I read an article yesterday about how long term pollution is likely to have damaged the Italians' airways and that is the reason the infection and death rates are so high in that area. We all know China would be the same. The airways dry out from the pollution and there's no longer the mucosal protection to catch the bugs on their way into the body.
The winds from the sea push the air inland but the Alps prevent pollution from escaping the area, the climate there has always been foggy and stagnant. That's also the main industrial area of Italy so there's a lot of pollution to begin with.
Also, the coronavirus won't disappear magically in a couple of months. The quarantine only tries to lower the speed of transmission so that millions of people don't catch the virus at the same time. When quarantine is over it will still be wise to avoid crowded places and being too near people. I think there's going to be a positive change in our mentality. Better for us and for the environment.
Not going to happen, this has been tried often enough already but in the long term it is important for people to get out of the home for a change and meet people at work. And it's important for the company that employees meet and talk to each other as many important ideas come up when people talk in the kitchen while waiting for the coffee. Companies often are designed in a way that employees bump into each other often. Also consider: a lot of manufacturing places shut down now, the workers can't do home office and this is the main cause of pollution. Long term we will have to find another solution than a quarantine and the virus is giving us a chance to rethink quite a lot of things. So hopefully enough people will do that and find solutions.
Sure a lot of people can't do their work at home, but a lot of people could work in office only in some days. Also you can do meetings via webcam ( and if people will use this technology more, sure companies will feel incentivised to improve it). And I think that in the future the majority of peolple could work from home thank to future technological inventions ( maybe I dream to much?)
Previnca, yes in theory that all works. But reality goes into a completely different direction. After all we are humans and need social contact. For example the more automatisation happens in the industry the more demand there is for social jobs because people are longing for interaction and if it's only with the cashier at the supermarket. Replace the cashier with a machine and people will look for social contact somewhere else. Replace the office with home office and people will look for something to compensate that. Part time home office can be a very good thing, especially when you have a family but not everybody is into it and it doesn't work with every office work. Flex / core time is another approach very successful in some branches. There is a whole lot of research done in this area. But in general the dream that home office reduces pollution significant is an illusion, it would do only a little bit so we should focus on where it matters.
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.
same here in austria ..
Just the reduction in traffic from people commuting must be having an effect. We all need to learn from this, realise we can reduce pollution quite easily, and try not to all go back to our exact same ways afterward.
Unfortunately we humans never will learnt. But nature is putting us "on notice": This time, only a few millions will die. Next time, I will get rid of you completely humans. We can do very well without you. Something to think about while we all are in quarantine.
Same here in Sofia, Bulgaria
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.