Each and every human being in the world is suffering from the Coronavirus. It has brought sad feelings to everyone’s mind. The pandemic is spreading very fast in many countries. But there has been no positive news reported since it has started. Though all the countries are so powerful none of them are able to find a cure for the pandemic. It proves that economic power is subservient to nature. We still have no answers. Unexpectedly the scientists are finally reporting a positive side on the effects of this pandemic Coronavirus.
ESA says that there is a significant decrease of NO2 emission in Italy due to quarantine. Mainly this is because of the lockdown due to COVID-19. The Sentinel-5P satellite has detected a significant change in air pollution in the northern part of the country.
“The decline in nitrogen dioxide emissions over the Po Valley in northern Italy is particularly evident,” Claus Zehner, ESA’s Copernicus Sentinel-5P mission manager reported. “Althoughthere could be slight variations in the data due to cloud cover and changing weather, we are very confident that the reduction in emissions that we can see, coincides with the lockdown in Italy causing less traffic and industrial activities.”
Scientists and researchers are reporting a significant decrease in NO2 levels above Italy
In one month, there is a clear decrease of NO2 levels (a pollution marker) in northern #Italy according to the satellite sensor @tropomi @avoiland @elisa_ox @blefer @rjswap pic.twitter.com/FnSz4AtT8q
— Santiago Gassó (@SanGasso) March 11, 2020
Image credits: SanGasso
“Copernicus Sentinel-5P Tropomi is the most accurate instrument today that measures air pollution from space. These measurements, globally available thanks to the free and open data policy, provide crucial information for citizens and decision makers,” said Josef Aschbacher, ESA’s Director of Earth Observation Programmes.”
Gradual decrease in NO2 pollution starting from the 14th of February
Image credits: SanGasso
With less NO2 traces
Image credits: SanGasso
Santiago Gassó Is a researcher at NASA has reported on twitter that fluctuating NO2 emissions are completely normal when considering the present situation of the country.
The map showcases NO2 pollution levels on the 8th of February, Saturday
While this one shows the pollution levels on Saturday, March 7
This is the data presented by the European Space Agency (ESA) that shows the same tendency
A time-lapse from ESA
Some noticeable change in the environment that have been reported by Italians
I canali di Venezia senza traffico di barche!!
Il risultato? Acqua limpidissima
Ph. Venice pictures pic.twitter.com/KGsKWNd56u— Albert Folaz (@FolinAlberto) March 11, 2020