Before and after:
Air-pollutant levels after isolation
These images, courtesy of ESA’s Copernicus Programme and NASA’s Aura satellite, show the drastic improvement in air quality as a consequence of a global lockdown
1. France
The majority of France doesn’t usually experience high levels of nitrogen dioxide in its atmosphere, the expected exceptions being Paris, Lyon, Marseille and Lille. Paris has experienced an approximate 54 per cent drop in air
pollutants compared to previous years.
2. Italy
Italy was the first country in Europe to be hit hard by coronavirus, with a lockdown put into place in response to try and slow the spread. The northern region is normally heavily polluted, as shown in the large dark-red patches. In
March 2020 Milan showed an approximate 47 per cent drop.
3. Spain
Spain was arguably the second country in Europe to feel the worst effects of the virus, and as a result was put under extremely intense lockdown conditions. This lockdown has led to a 48 per cent reduction in air pollutants in the Spanish
capital of Madrid.
4. India
After the Indian government put over a billion people in lockdown in lateMarch, the country has experienced a dramatic and rapid reduction in nitrogen
dioxide. In fact, compared to the average levels of January to March 2020, cities such as Mumbai and Delhi have experienced a drop of between 40 and
50 per cent.
The United States’ northeastern coast houses some of its busiest cities, such as New York, Boston, Philadelphia and Washington, D.C.. The average nitrogen dioxide emission from March 2015 to 2019 has been very high. As expected, measurements from March 2020 have shown a massive 30 per cent reduction.
5. United States