NOx Emissions Reduction and Rebound in China Due to the COVID-19 Crisis

Journal article (2020)

Authors

J. Ding Royal Netherlands Meteorological Institute (KNMI)
R.J. van der A Royal Netherlands Meteorological Institute (KNMI), Nanjing University of Science and Technology, Nanjing, China
H.J. Eskes Royal Netherlands Meteorological Institute (KNMI)
B Mijling Royal Netherlands Meteorological Institute (KNMI)
T Stavrakou Royal Belgian Institute for Space Aeronomy (BIRA-IASB)
J. H.G.M. van Geffen Royal Netherlands Meteorological Institute (KNMI)
j. Pepijn Veefkind Atmospheric Remote Sensing - CEG
Research Group
Atmospheric Remote Sensing (CEG) (TU Delft)
Copyright: © 2020 J. Ding, R.J. van der A, H.J. Eskes, B. Mijling, T. Stavrakou, J. H.G.M. van Geffen, j. Pepijn Veefkind
DOI: https://doi.org/10.1029/2020GL089912
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Published Date

2020

Language

English

Faculty

Civil Engineering & Geosciences

Department

Geoscience and Remote Sensing

Research Group

Atmospheric Remote Sensing

Abstract

During the COVID-19 lockdown (24 January–20 March) in China low air pollution levels were reported in the media as a consequence of reduced economic and social activities. Quantification of the pollution reduction is not straightforward due to effects of transport, meteorology, and chemistry. We have analyzed the NOx emission reductions calculated with an inverse algorithm applied to daily NO2 observations from TROPOMI onboard the Copernicus Sentinel-5P satellite. This method allows the quantification of emission reductions per city and the analysis of emissions of maritime transport and of the energy sector separately. The reductions we found are 20–50% for cities, about 40% for power plants, and 15–40% for maritime transport depending on the region. The reduction in both emissions and concentrations shows a similar timeline consisting of a sharp reduction (34–50%) around the Spring festival and a slow recovery from mid-February to mid-March.