The impacts of COVID-19, meteorology, and emission control policies on PM_2.5 drops in Northeast Asia.

ABSTRACT: In January 2020, anthropogenic emissions in Northeast Asia reduced due to the COVID-19 outbreak. When outdoor activities of the public were limited, PM_2.5 concentrations in China and South Korea between February and March 2020 reduced by - 16.8 μg/m³ and - 9.9 μg/m³ respectively, compared with the average over the previous three years. This study uses air quality modeling and observations over the past four years to separate the influence of reductions in anthropogenic emissions from meteorological changes and emission control policies on this PM_2.5 concentration change. Here, we show that the impacts of anthropogenic pollution reduction on PM_2.5 were found to be approximately - 16% in China and - 21% in South Korea, while those of met

SUBMITTER: Kang YH 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC7747715 | biostudies-literature | 2020 Dec

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature