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Gizmodo has published maps showing how Coronavirus lockdowns have slashed US air pollution

Teh_Lurv

Teh_Lurv

Member
Oct 25, 2017
6,099
The impacts have been profound on the ground, but government-mandated lockdowns have also remade the atmosphere. Satellite data from China, the first epicenter of the outbreak, and Italy, the second hot spot, have shown big drops in pollution following lockdowns that limited the movement of people and goods and factories' ability to produce stuff. With the pandemic now becoming increasingly prevalent in the U.S., Americans have already started moving less as mayors and governors have turned to similar measures.
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"The rapid decrease we see in nitrogen dioxide due to covid-19 is unprecedented," Dix said. "We are now witnessing a global experiment where one emission source is rapidly turned down (NOx), while other sources are still up or will decrease more slowly. A lot of atmospheric science will come out of this."
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earther.gizmodo.com

Coronavirus Slashed Global Air Pollution. This Interactive Map Shows How

The covid-19 pandemic has changed the world, grinding to a halt increasingly large geographic areas and portions of the economy in an effort to slow the virus’ spread.
earther.gizmodo.com earther.gizmodo.com

There are several map comparisons of various parts of the US in the article. Here is one example from the article:

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Adam_Roman

Adam_Roman

Member
Oct 25, 2017
3,068
I hope that this shows people what could be possible with tighter pollution regulation when things return to normal and they witness things going back to their regular polluted state
 
Striferser

Striferser

Member
Oct 28, 2017
1,600
Well, what do you know, don't need fancy super technology to safe environment. Just reduce the amount of activity for a period of time
 
Starwing

Starwing

One Winged Slayer
The Fallen
Oct 31, 2018
4,122
Its actually gotten much cooler around here, too. Wonder if this has something to do with it?
 
jeelybeans

jeelybeans

Member
Oct 25, 2017
6,948
Has anyone who has gone outside for a walk noticed a difference?

I don't feel a difference in air quality in Houston...
 
HardRojo

HardRojo

One Winged Slayer
Member
Oct 25, 2017
26,139
Peru
I've seen idiotic posts like "Coronavirus has done more for the environment than Greta" and man, I'm like "Well that's the fucking point, Coronavirus is proving her point!".
 
maxxpower

maxxpower

Attempted to circumvent ban with alt account
Banned
Oct 25, 2017
8,950
California
I wonder how quickly Earth's CO2 levels would go back to normal if humans just vanished overnight.
 
WedgeX

WedgeX

Member
Oct 27, 2017
13,207
I wonder how the air quality tests have faired the past two weeks compared to the same weeks the past couple years.
 
LuxCommander

LuxCommander

The Fallen
Oct 25, 2017
1,050
Los Angeles, CA
Air quality here in LA is most definitely better; you can visibly see the difference. Having moved here from Austin 6 months ago, I had to double take on how blue the skies are. Also helps that we had a good amount of rain to clean it up too.
 
Titik

Titik

Member
Oct 25, 2017
7,490
LuxCommander said:
Air quality here in LA is most definitely better; you can visibly see the difference. Having moved here from Austin 6 months ago, I had to double take on how blue the skies are. Also helps that we had a good amount of rain to clean it up too.
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Yeah I live in LA too but it has never been clearer, even after the rains. It has stayed so clear for weeks now instead of filling up again a few days after water falls from the sky.
 
entremet

entremet

You wouldn't toast a NES cartridge
Member
Oct 26, 2017
60,197
Gas-powered cars suck. The more we get away from them, the better.

Other modes of transit are also better, but pretty sure that's mostly automobile emissions.
 
Titik

Titik

Member
Oct 25, 2017
7,490
entremet said:
Gas-powered cars suck. The more we get away from them, the better.

Other modes of transit are also better, but pretty sure that's mostly automobile emissions.
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Most of the emissions actually come form commercial activity like trucks and such. Thank goodness that is actually where robotic transport will make a huge deal. Sucks for truckers though.
 
Rendering...

Rendering...

Member
Oct 30, 2017
19,089
Everyone please remain calm! Global society will soon correct this unplanned improvement to the biosphere that sustains our lives.
 

DickGrayson

Alt Account
Member
Jan 30, 2020
941
yuoke said:
Kind of hard to do that for a lot of jobs.
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One thing that this pandemic has proved is that a lot of people CAN work from home sometimes, a lot more people than previously were doing so anyway.

Of course, there would be long term increased energy demands from millions of people working from home, but that would easily be offset by the lack of CO2 outputting transport...
 
BLEEN

BLEEN

Member
Oct 27, 2017
21,890
sangreal said:
Nope. I've noticed the difference in traffic but not the air quality

I actually live in the region highlighted in the OP which... is not known for smog to begin with
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I feel it's been chillier around here lately but could just be the season. Still too cold for me if it ain't in the 70s lol
 

Deleted member 18379

Banned
Oct 27, 2017
2,165
Earth will shrug us off like ants if she wants and days will continue to go by. Humanity needs to get over itself and work together. We are a single unit.
 
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