Firstpost
  • Home
  • Video Shows
    Vantage Firstpost America Firstpost Africa First Sports
  • World
    US News
  • Explainers
  • News
    India Opinion Cricket Tech Entertainment Sports Health Photostories
  • Asia Cup 2025
Apple Incorporated Modi ji Justin Trudeau Trending

Sections

  • Home
  • Live TV
  • Videos
  • Shows
  • World
  • India
  • Explainers
  • Opinion
  • Sports
  • Cricket
  • Health
  • Tech/Auto
  • Entertainment
  • Web Stories
  • Business
  • Impact Shorts

Shows

  • Vantage
  • Firstpost America
  • Firstpost Africa
  • First Sports
  • Fast and Factual
  • Between The Lines
  • Flashback
  • Live TV

Events

  • Raisina Dialogue
  • Independence Day
  • Champions Trophy
  • Delhi Elections 2025
  • Budget 2025
  • US Elections 2024
  • Firstpost Defence Summit
Trending:
  • Charlie Kirk shot dead
  • Nepal protests
  • Russia-Poland tension
  • Israeli strikes in Qatar
  • Larry Ellison
  • Apple event
  • Sunjay Kapur inheritance row
fp-logo
NASA, European Space Agency data show drop in air pollution in India during COVID-19 lockdown
Whatsapp Facebook Twitter
Whatsapp Facebook Twitter
Apple Incorporated Modi ji Justin Trudeau Trending

Sections

  • Home
  • Live TV
  • Videos
  • Shows
  • World
  • India
  • Explainers
  • Opinion
  • Sports
  • Cricket
  • Health
  • Tech/Auto
  • Entertainment
  • Web Stories
  • Business
  • Impact Shorts

Shows

  • Vantage
  • Firstpost America
  • Firstpost Africa
  • First Sports
  • Fast and Factual
  • Between The Lines
  • Flashback
  • Live TV

Events

  • Raisina Dialogue
  • Independence Day
  • Champions Trophy
  • Delhi Elections 2025
  • Budget 2025
  • US Elections 2024
  • Firstpost Defence Summit
  • Home
  • Tech
  • science
  • NASA, European Space Agency data show drop in air pollution in India during COVID-19 lockdown

NASA, European Space Agency data show drop in air pollution in India during COVID-19 lockdown

FP Trending • April 27, 2020, 16:23:17 IST
Whatsapp Facebook Twitter

According ESA, Mumbai and Delhi have witnessed a significant reduction of around 40 to 50 percent of NO2 compared to last year.

Advertisement
Subscribe Join Us
Add as a preferred source on Google
Prefer
Firstpost
On
Google
NASA, European Space Agency data show drop in air pollution in India during COVID-19 lockdown

The lockdown imposed by the government to restrict the spread of novel coronavirus has also started to show a positive effect on air quality across the country. During the COVID-19 lockdown that started on 25 March, there has been a remarkable reduction in pollution levels across major Indian cities.

According to a report by the European Space Agency (ESA), Mumbai and Delhi have witnessed a significant reduction of around 40 to 50 per cent of nitrogen dioxide (NO2) compared to the same period last year.

STORY CONTINUES BELOW THIS AD

[caption id=“attachment_8304481” align=“alignnone” width=“1000”]These images, using data from the Copernicus Sentinel-5P satellite, show the average nitrogen dioxide concentrations from 1 January to 24 March 2020 and 25 March (the first day of the lockdown) to 20 April 2020 – compared to the same time-frame as last year. Mumbai and Delhi saw drops of around 40-50% compared to the same time last year. Image credit: ESA These images, using data from the Copernicus Sentinel-5P satellite, show the average nitrogen dioxide concentrations from 1 January to 24 March 2020 and 25 March (the first day of the lockdown) to 20 April 2020 – compared to the same time-frame as last year. Mumbai and Delhi saw drops of around 40-50% compared to the same time last year. Image credit: ESA[/caption]

According to the agency, the new satellite maps, created using data from the Copernicus Sentinel-5P satellite, showed a reduction in average NO2 concentrations over India from 1 January to 24 March 2020 and 25 March to 20 April 2020 – compared to the same period last year.

More from science
Careless Whispers: Scientists discover that plants can 'talk' to each other using smells Careless Whispers: Scientists discover that plants can 'talk' to each other using smells Life on Mars? European Space Agency’s Orbiter discovers ice water deposits at equator Life on Mars? European Space Agency’s Orbiter discovers ice water deposits at equator

“The significant reduction in the concentrations can be seen over major cities across India,” Claus Zehner, ESA’s Copernicus Sentinel-5P mission manager said.

Zehner said that in the new maps showed high values of NO2 concentrations over northeast India. “Our analysis shows that these clusters are directly linked with the locations of the ongoing coal-based power plants. The largest power station in India, the Vindhyachal Super Thermal Power Station, shows a reduction of only around 15% compared to the same time last year,” he added.

NO2 is usually emitted into the atmosphere from power plants, industrial facilities and vehicles. High levels of NO2 increase the possibility of developing respiratory problems.

US space agency NASA too in its report said that its satellite sensors have observed aerosol levels at a 20-year low in northern India since the government imposed the COVID-19 lockdown.

[caption id=“attachment_8304501” align=“alignnone” width=“1000”]The first five maps above show aerosol optical depth (AOD) measurements over India during the same March 31 to April 5 period for each year from 2016 through 2020. The sixth map (anomaly) shows how AOD in 2020 compared to the average for 2016-2019. Image credit: NASA The first five maps above show aerosol optical depth measurements over India during the same March 31 to April 5 period for each year from 2016 through 2020. The sixth map (anomaly) shows how AOD in 2020 compared to the average for 2016-2019. Image credit: NASA[/caption]

NASA retrieved the data from the Moderate Resolution Imaging Spectroradiometer (MODIS) on its Terra satellite.

Aerosols are tiny airborne particles which reduce visibility and can cause lung and heart damage in humans.

“We knew we would see changes in atmospheric composition in many places during the lockdown. But I have never seen aerosol values so low in the Indo-Gangetic Plain at this time of year,” Pawan Gupta, a Universities Space Research Association (USRA) scientist at NASA’s Marshall Space Flight Center said.

STORY CONTINUES BELOW THIS AD
Tags
Nasa European Space Agency ESA coronavirus Aerosols nitrogen dioxide COVID 19 Coronavirus India Coronavirus lockdown
End of Article
Latest News
Find us on YouTube
Subscribe
End of Article

Top Stories

Charlie Kirk, shot dead in Utah, once said gun deaths are 'worth it' to save Second Amendment

Charlie Kirk, shot dead in Utah, once said gun deaths are 'worth it' to save Second Amendment

From governance to tourism, how Gen-Z protests have damaged Nepal

From governance to tourism, how Gen-Z protests have damaged Nepal

Did Russia deliberately send drones into Poland’s airspace?

Did Russia deliberately send drones into Poland’s airspace?

Netanyahu ‘killed any hope’ for Israeli hostages: Qatar PM after Doha strike

Netanyahu ‘killed any hope’ for Israeli hostages: Qatar PM after Doha strike

Charlie Kirk, shot dead in Utah, once said gun deaths are 'worth it' to save Second Amendment

Charlie Kirk, shot dead in Utah, once said gun deaths are 'worth it' to save Second Amendment

From governance to tourism, how Gen-Z protests have damaged Nepal

From governance to tourism, how Gen-Z protests have damaged Nepal

Did Russia deliberately send drones into Poland’s airspace?

Did Russia deliberately send drones into Poland’s airspace?

Netanyahu ‘killed any hope’ for Israeli hostages: Qatar PM after Doha strike

Netanyahu ‘killed any hope’ for Israeli hostages: Qatar PM after Doha strike

Top Shows

Vantage Firstpost America Firstpost Africa First Sports
Latest News About Firstpost
Most Searched Categories
  • Web Stories
  • World
  • India
  • Explainers
  • Opinion
  • Sports
  • Cricket
  • Tech/Auto
  • Entertainment
  • IPL 2025
NETWORK18 SITES
  • News18
  • Money Control
  • CNBC TV18
  • Forbes India
  • Advertise with us
  • Sitemap
Firstpost Logo

is on YouTube

Subscribe Now

Copyright @ 2024. Firstpost - All Rights Reserved

About Us Contact Us Privacy Policy Cookie Policy Terms Of Use
Home Video Shorts Live TV