Examining the Economic and Environmental Impacts of COVID-19 Using Earth Observation Data

Abstract:

The coronavirus disease 2019 (CoVID-19) pandemic has infected over 11 million people and caused over half a million fatalities since early December 2019 when it was first reported in Wuhan, China . In response to this virus outbreak, social distancing measures, such as lock-down restrictions, have been applied across the world. While such restrictions have reduced the spread of the virus and improved air quality due to reduction in mobility, they also have plunged the economy to the level of recession last seen during WWII in the United States . Using daily earth observation data (Day-Night Band from NOAA Soumi-NPP and Nitrogen Dioxide (NO2) measurements from TROPOMI) along with cell phone derived mobility data, we examined the economic and environmental impacts of lock-downs in the US. Analyses of data during February to April 2020 in California, Illinois and Washington DC reveal that reduction in mobility has two conflicting impacts: (i) it contributed to improved air quality (reduction in emissions), but (ii) reduced economic activity that has subsequently reduced Gross Domestic Product, increased poverty and unemployment rate. Such knowledge can be combined with unemployment and demographic data to develop policies and strategies for safe reopening of the economy while preserving our environment.