Climate Adaptation
Air Pollution Vanishes Across China’s Industrial Heartland
- Satellite images show major drop in nitrogen dioxide levels
- Virus lockdown has affected factory output and transport
Nitrogen dioxide levels above China during Jan. and Feb., 2020.
Source: NASA/ESA
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China’s lockdown measures to minimize further coronavirus infections have created one unexpected benefit -- a dramatic improvement to the nation’s air quality.
Satellites operated by NASA and the European Space Agency have detected significant drops of major airborne pollutants above vast swathes of the country.