An investigation of the impacts of a successful COVID-19 response and meteorology on air quality in New Zealand.

ABSTRACT: The COVID-19 pandemic brought about national restrictions on people's movements, in effect commencing a socially engineered transport emission reduction experiment. In New Zealand during the most restrictive alert level (Level 4), roadside concentrations of nitrogen dioxide (NO₂) were reduced 48-54% compared to Business-as-usual (BAU) values. NO₂ concentrations rapidly returned to near mean levels as the alert levels decreased and restrictions eased. PM₁₀ and PM_2.5 responded differently to NO₂ during the different alert levels. This is due to particulates having multiple sources, many of natural origin and therefore less influenced by human activity. PM₁₀ and PM_2.5 concentrations were reduced during alert level 4

SUBMITTER: Talbot N 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC8137364 | biostudies-literature | 2021 Jun

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature