Recent advances in satellite mapping of global air quality: evidences during COVID-19 pandemic

There was a significant decline in air pollution in different parts of the world due to enforcement of lockdown by many countries to check the spread of the coronavirus (COVID-19) pandemic. In particular, commercial and industrial activities had been limited globally with restricted air and surface traffic movements in response to social distancing and isolation. Both satellite remote sensing and ground-based monitoring were used to measure the change in the air quality. There was momentous decline in the averaged concentrations of nitrogen dioxide (NO2), carbon dioxide (CO2), sulphur dioxide (SO2), methane (CH4) and aerosols. Many cities across India, China and several major cities in Europe observed strong reductions in nitrogen dioxide levels dropping by around 40–50% owing to lockdowns. Similarly, concentrations of SO2 in polluted areas in India, especially around large coal-fired power plants and industrial areas decreased by around 40% as evidenced by the comparative satellite mapping during April 2019 and April 2020. Recent advances in sensors on board various satellites played a significant role in real-time monitoring of emission regimes over various parts of the world. The satellite data is relying upon single scene profusion for real-time air quality measurements, and also using averaged dataset over certain time-period. The daily global-scale remote sensing data of NO2, as measured through the Copernicus Sentinel-5 Precursor Tropospheric Monitoring Instrument (S5p/TROPOMI) of European Space Agency (ESA), indicated exceptional decreases in tropospheric NO2 pollution in urban areas. Similarly, Greenhouse gases Observing Satellite (GOSAT) of Japan Aerospace Exploration Agency, with a repeat cycle of three days helped in assessing the sources and sinks of CO2 and CH4 on a sub-continental scale.