Is the air really cleaner since shutdown?

[George K]

Maybe not.

[jon-nyc]

Ive wondered that too. As a guy who has paid more attention to air quality than most, one of the major influences is O3. Not sure lockdown changes that.

[Doctor Phibes]

My perception (not sure it's reality) is that air quality in a lot of the US isn't actually that bad at all. The really stunning photos I've seen have been from India and China.

[jon-nyc]

I lived in Mexico City when they had the worst air in the world (1992). It literally damaged the cartilage in my nose.

Their air is like 90% better now. And still pretty bad by US standards.

[MainerMikeBrown]

I've heard that, in L.A., you can see the nearby mountains better since the shutdown.

[jon-nyc]

Yeah, I've heard that too

[Axtremus]

Nature article:
https://www.nature.com/articles/s41558-020-0797-x

Abstract: “ Government policies during the COVID-19 pandemic have drastically altered patterns of energy demand around the world. Many international borders were closed and populations were confined to their homes, which reduced transport and changed consumption patterns. Here we compile government policies and activity data to estimate the decrease in CO2 emissions during forced confinements. Daily global CO2 emissions decreased by –17% (–11 to –25% for ±1σ) by early April 2020 compared with the mean 2019 levels, just under half from changes in surface transport. At their peak, emissions in individual countries decreased by –26% on average. The impact on 2020 annual emissions depends on the duration of the confinement, with a low estimate of –4% (–2 to –7%) if prepandemic conditions return by mid-June, and a high estimate of –7% (–3 to –13%) if some restrictions remain worldwide until the end of 2020. Government actions and economic incentives postcrisis will likely influence the global CO2 emissions path for decades.”

Reporting by WaPo:
https://www.washingtonpost.com/climate-environment/2020/05/19/greenhouse-emissions-coronavirus/

“Global emissions plunged an unprecedented 17 percent during the coronavirus pandemic

But scientists say the drivers of global warming could quickly bounce back as social distancing ends and economies rebound.
...”

More charts and statistics in the article.

[Mik]

@jon-nyc said in Is the air really cleaner since shutdown?:

I lived in Mexico City when they had the worst air in the world (1992). It literally damaged the cartilage in my nose.

Their air is like 90% better now. And still pretty bad by US standards.

Um, Jon? Are you sure the air is what damaged your nasal cartilege? I mean, really.

[Mik]

@MainerMikeBrown said in Is the air really cleaner since shutdown?:

I've heard that, in L.A., you can see the nearby mountains better since the shutdown.

Even on bad days the difference between LA air today and when I lived there 78-80 is phenomenal. With a probably 80% decrease in traffic? Wow.

[Rainman]

So if we're not careful, global cooling will begin, the ice caps will grow, the polar bear population will skyrocket and eat us all by 2025.

Damn pandemic. Just can't win.

[89th]

@Rainman said in Is the air really cleaner since shutdown?:

the polar bear population will skyrocket and eat us all by 2025.

I figured that would just be July 2020