Satellites operated by NASA and the European Space Agency have detected significant drops of major airborne pollutants above vast swathes of the country.
Before-and-after images show how nitrogen dioxide levels plummeted in February compared to pre-lockdown January of this year. Nitrogen dioxide is a noxious gas emitted by factories, motor vehicles and fossil fuel-powered electricity generation stations.
The country's strong corona containment measures are largely responsible for this dramatic drop:
Researchers say China’s pollutant levels normally decline in February as factories pause for Lunar New Year celebrations, when the world’s largest annual mass migration occurs. But the usual rebound in pollutant levels did not occur last month, helping to illustrate the vast scale of shutdowns in the world’s second biggest economy.Although such measures are taking an economic toll, not only in China but throughout the world (cancelled flights, reluctance to 'shop til you drop', stock market corrections, etc.), the natural world is in fact benefiting.
“This year, the reduction rate is more significant than in past years and it has lasted longer,” Liu said. “I am not surprised because many cities nationwide have taken measures to minimize spread of the virus.”
Homeostasis is a self-regulating process by which biological systems tend to maintain stability while adjusting to conditions that are optimal for survival.
I can't help but wonder if Covid-19 is part of nature's efforts toward that end.
I've read that, when China experienced disruptive events in the past, once the emergency passed they simply re-doubled production and emissions soared commensurately. Orders delayed still have to be filled. Revenues postponed still need to be realized.
ReplyDeleteThat's probably true, Mound, but I suspect Mother Nature will happily accept whatever good news there is, however brief the respite might be.
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