Improved air quality during COVID-19 at an urban megacity over the Indo-Gangetic Basin: From stringent to relaxed lockdown phases.

ABSTRACT: The enforced lockdown amid COVID-19 pandemic eased anthropogenic activities across India. The satellite-derived aerosol optical depth (AOD) and absorption AOD showed a significant reduction of ~30% over the Indo-Gangetic Basin (IGB) in north India during the lockdown period in 2020 with respect to the previous year 2019, when no such lockdown was in effect. Further, near-surface air pollutants were investigated at an urban megacity Delhi during 01 March to 31 May 2020. Except O₃, a drastic reduction in PM₁₀, PM_2.5, NO, NO₂ and CO concentrations were observed by ~58%, 47%, 76%, 68% and 58%, respectively during the lockdown period of 2020 as compared to 2019. While, O₃ was low in the initial phase and gradually increased with progression

SUBMITTER: Srivastava AK 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC7946354 | biostudies-literature | 2021 Mar

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature