WhyAir Pollution Has Decreased Due to Coronavirus

April8, 2020

Science &TechnologyWorld

Exercise 1 - Vocabulary

generate- to produceor create energy, money, etc.

Electrical storms generate a lot of lightning.

release - to allowsomeone or something to be free; to allow something to move, flow, etc. freely

Running helps me release extra energy.

emission - theproduction and release of gases, often those that are bad for the environment

Emissions from the factory are causing air pollution.

fossil fuel - fuel suchas coal, gas, and oil

Fossil fuel emissions are bad for the environment.

province - an areawithin a country or state that has its own government

There are ten provinces and three territories in Canada.

Exercise 2 - Article

WhyAir Pollution Has Decreased Due to Coronavirus

In an effort to stop the spread of thecoronavirus, a third of the world's population has gone into lockdown, meaningmost people must stay at home, and many aren't going to work. That meansfewer people driving cars, fewer factories running and less power beinggenerated. As a result, less pollution is being released into the air.

Air pollution caused by the emission ofnitrogen dioxide (NO2) in eastern and central China was 10-30% lower in Januaryand February compared to the same months in 2019, according to NASA. Areport from Carbon Brief said that China's carbon dioxide (CO2) levels havealso fallen, with a 25% reduction in February 2020 compared with February 2019.

Most man-made CO2 and NO2 comes fromburning fossil fuels for things like transport and power. The Chinesegovernment said that there were 21% more "good quality air days" inHubei province in February compared to February 2019. Wuhan, home of thefirst coronavirus patient, is the capital of Hubei province, and the firstChinese city to be locked down due to the coronavirus.

Other parts of the world, including Europe, the US and India, arealso seeing less pollution.

In Europe, Italy has been hit hardest bythe coronavirus. Its capital city, Rome, has seen between 26% and 35% lessNO2 compared to 2019. New York City, the hardest hit city in the US, has seen less CO2 andmethane (CH4), and half as much carbon monoxide (CO) in March compared to lastyear, according to Professor Róisín Commane from Columbia University. Otherparts of the US, like California and Washington, have also seen less NO2.

At midnight on March 25, India started theworld's largest lockdown, asking its population of 1.3 billion to stay home forat least 21 days. Just two days later, on March 27, India's capital city,New Delhi, had NO2 levels that were 71% lower than a week before.

Exercise 3 - Discussion

1. What are your thoughts on the impact COVID-19 has had on airquality?

2. What long-term effects do you think the coronavirus outbreak willhave on air pollution?

3. Does most of your country's energy come from fossil fuels? Pleaseexplain your answer.

4. How would you describe the air quality where you live?

5. What are the most polluted cities in your country? Please explainyour answer.