Comparative analysis of the total concentration of NO2 in Spain in 2019-2020
Significant parameters of the economic and personal activity of people associated with the pandemic COVID-19 have, to a certain extent, affected the quality of the ambient air. And today we can present NO2 concentrations over Spanish territory as an example of such an improvement. The ones made on the same day with a difference of 1 year demonstrated that, especially in large cities, NO2 emissions decreased to a minimum. At the same time, the average annual balance of emissions, which was calculated for the first half of 2019 and 2020, did not reveal significant differences in these values.
This is largely due to the fact that people continued to satisfy their energy, transport, industrial and household needs with the same technologies, and the period of the quarantine only partially covered the compared time intervals.
We can assume that the share of transport emissions has decreased, but, on the other hand, many people stayed at home, and therefore, household emissions remained or even increased.
Decreases in urban NO2 concentrations in summer 2019 may also be associated with a period of reduced business activity and vacations, as well as pressure on energy systems.
Thus, the determination of the trend in the period of 2020 and the impact of restrictive measures on covid-19 can be estimated after the publication of updated data on average emissions in Europe for the entire 2020.
Comparative analysis of NO2 concentrations of total column in Spain in 2019
Comparative analysis of NO2 concentrations of total column in Spain in 2020
Average annual concentrations of NO2 in the largest Spanish cities, for the 6 months in 2019-2020 in 2019 and 2020 years
Average monthly levels NO2 total column for the largest Spanish cities, 2019-2020
Generated using Copernicus Atmosphere Monitoring Service information, 2021
This document has been produced in the context of the Copernicus Atmosphere Monitoring Service (CAMS).
The activities leading to these results have been contracted by the European Centre for Medium-Range Weather Forecasts, operator of CAMS on behalf of the European Union (Delegation agreement signed on 11/11/2014). All information in this document is provided "as is" and no guarantee or warranty is given that the information is fit for any particular purpose.
The users thereof use the information at their sole risk and liability. For the avoidance of all doubt, the European Commission and the European Centre for Medium-Range Weather Forecasts have no liability in respect of this document, which is merely representing the author's view.