Earth ID: 31142

COVID-19: NASA Satellite Data Show Drop in Air Pollution Over U.S.

Released on May 18, 2020

These images show the impact the spread of the novel coronavirus (COVID-19) has had on reducing air pollution in the United States as widespread lockdowns and shelter-in-place orders have been put in place. The images show a reduction in the levels of nitrogen dioxide (NO2)—a noxious gas emitted by motor vehicles, power plants, and industrial facilities—as measured by the Ozone Monitoring Instrument (OMI) on NASA’s Aura satellite in March 2020. The “without stay-at-home orders” images show average monthly NO2 concentrations during March and April from 2015 through 2019, while the “during stay-at-home orders” images show average monthly concentrations in March and April 2020.

These improvements in air quality have come at a high cost, as communities grapple with the impacts of COVID-19. The data indicate that the NO2 levels in March and April 2020 are much lower on average across the United States when compared to the mean of 2015 to 2019.

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Credits

Trent L. Schindler (USRA): Lead Data Visualizer
Bryan Duncan (NASA/GSFC): Lead Scientist
Bryan Duncan (NASA/GSFC): Lead Writer
Joanna Joiner (NASA/GSFC): Scientist
Lok Lamsal (USRA): Scientist
Amy Moran (Global Science and Technology, Inc.): Lead Animator
Ian Jones (ADNET Systems, Inc.): Technical Support
Laurence Schuler (ADNET Systems, Inc.): Technical Support
Heather Hanson (GST): Lead Writer

Please give credit for this item to:
NASA's Goddard Space Flight Center

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