Preprints
https://doi.org/10.5194/acp-2020-621
https://doi.org/10.5194/acp-2020-621
13 Jul 2020
 | 13 Jul 2020
Status: this preprint was under review for the journal ACP but the revision was not accepted.

An assessment of the impact of a nation-wide lockdown on air pollution – a remote sensing perspective over India

Mahesh Pathakoti, Aarathi Muppalla, Sayan Hazra, Mahalakshmi Dangeti, Raja Shekhar, Srinivasulu Jella, Sesha Sai Mullapudi, Prasad Andugulapati, and Uma Vijayasundaram

Abstract. The nation-wide lockdown imposed over India from 25th March 2020 onwards, in response to the COVID-19 pandemic, placed severe restrictions upon the industrial and transport sectors, which together form a significant chunk of anthropogenic emissions of pollutants into the atmosphere. Atmospheric concentrations of Nitrogen dioxide (NO2), carbon monoxide (CO) and aerosol optical depth (AOD) for lockdown and pre-lockdown periods were investigated with observations from Aura/OMI, Terra/MOPITT, Sentinel-5p/TROPOMI and Aqua-Terra/MODIS satellite sensors. Mean NO2 levels over India during the lockdown period showed a dip of 17 % as compared to pre-lockdown period and a decrease of 18 % against the 5-year average. Over New Delhi in particular, there was a sharp decrease of 62 % in NO2 levels as compared to 2019 and a decline by 54 % relative to the preceding 5-year period (2015–2019). Aerosol levels reduced over the country by ~ 24 % from the 5-year mean levels, with a marked reduction over the Indo-Gangetic plains region. An increase in CO levels was noticeable, probably due to its longer life-time as compared to NO2 and aerosols. This study also reports the rate of change of NO2, CO and AOD, indicating increase/decrease in pollutant emissions over the different states of India.

Mahesh Pathakoti, Aarathi Muppalla, Sayan Hazra, Mahalakshmi Dangeti, Raja Shekhar, Srinivasulu Jella, Sesha Sai Mullapudi, Prasad Andugulapati, and Uma Vijayasundaram
 
Status: closed
Status: closed
AC: Author comment | RC: Referee comment | SC: Short comment | EC: Editor comment
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Status: closed
Status: closed
AC: Author comment | RC: Referee comment | SC: Short comment | EC: Editor comment
Printer-friendly Version - Printer-friendly version Supplement - Supplement
Mahesh Pathakoti, Aarathi Muppalla, Sayan Hazra, Mahalakshmi Dangeti, Raja Shekhar, Srinivasulu Jella, Sesha Sai Mullapudi, Prasad Andugulapati, and Uma Vijayasundaram
Mahesh Pathakoti, Aarathi Muppalla, Sayan Hazra, Mahalakshmi Dangeti, Raja Shekhar, Srinivasulu Jella, Sesha Sai Mullapudi, Prasad Andugulapati, and Uma Vijayasundaram

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Latest update: 28 Mar 2024
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Short summary
Present work carried out analysis of Air pollution over the Indian region in connection with nation's lockdown due to outbreak of COVID-19. We studied air pollutants namely NO2, CO and AOD using the remote sensing data. During the exhaustive 40 days of lock down in India, we observed significant reduction in air pollutants during lock down period compared to no lock down period. This study further shows the effect of lock down on short-term climatological variability of these pollutants.
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