Global tropospheric ozone responses to reduced NO <sub><i>x</i></sub> emissions linked to the COVID-19 worldwide lockdowns.
other
Where this comes from
- Record sourced from PubMed, PMID 34108210.
- Also identified by DOI 10.1126/sciadv.abf7460 and PMC identifier 8189586.
- Licence recorded as CC BY.
- The licence permits redistribution, so the abstract is shown in full and the full text is available from the publisher.
Abstract
Efforts to stem the transmission of coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) led to rapid, global ancillary reductions in air pollutant emissions. Here, we quantify the impact on tropospheric ozone using a multiconstituent chemical data assimilation system. Anthropogenic NO <sub><i>x</i></sub> emissions dropped by at least 15% globally and 18 to 25% regionally in April and May 2020, which decreased free tropospheric ozone by up to 5 parts per billion, consistent with independent satellite observations. The global total tropospheric ozone burden declined by 6TgO<sub>3</sub> (∼2%) in May and June 2020, largely due to emission reductions in Asia and the Americas that were amplified by regionally high ozone production efficiencies (up to 4 TgO<sub>3</sub>/TgN). Our results show that COVID-19 mitigation left a global atmospheric imprint that altered atmospheric oxidative capacity and climate radiative forcing, providing a test of the efficacy of NO <sub><i>x</i></sub> emissions controls for co-benefiting air quality and climate.
Medical subject headings
- Air Pollutants
- Air Pollution
- Atmosphere
- COVID-19
- Environmental Exposure
- Nitric Oxide
- Ozone