Atmospheric Sciences Seminar

Impacts of COVID-19 lockdowns on aerosols in India during 2020

Shuangge Yu
Masters Candidate
Department of Atmospheric Sciences
School of Ocean and Earth Science and Technology
University of Hawai'i at Manoa

Date: Wednesday, February 17, 2021
Time: 3:30pm HST
Zoom Meeting: https://zoom.us/j/93583080682
Meeting ID: 935 8308 0682
Passcode: 6daVMR

Abstract:
Aerosols can affect the Earth’s radiation balance, visibility, and human health. They play an important role in the natural environment and human society. At the end of 2019, the appearance of COVID-19 caused worldwide impacts on society and resulted in a noticeable change in air quality over India. This study provides a comparison between the monthly climatological mean aerosol optical depth (AOD) from 2000 to 2020 and the monthly average AOD in 2020. Daily AOD values are significantly reduced after lockdowns were implemented in India. The anomalies of Global Precipitation Measurement (GPM), SOI, and MEI in 2020 indicate that precipitation and ENSO do not influence the reduction of AOD. The trends of daily PM10 and PM2.5 in Mumbai and Delhi are similar to the trends seen in daily AOD values. The combined satellite and station data lend credibility to the observed AOD reduction caused by the lockdown. Although COVID-19 is harmful to human health, its appearance has improved the aerosol situation and likely human health in India.

Event Sponsor
SOEST Atmospheric Sciences, Mānoa Campus

More Information
808-956-8775, SEE FLYER (PDF)

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