Changes in atmospheric aerosols before and after the COVID-19 global shutdown

Abstract:

The COVID-19 virus was first detected in Wuhan, China and its genesis was traced to infected bats, passed through an intermediate host to humans. COVID-19 or “Coronavirus” reached approximately 4 million confirmed cases in the United States by July 2020. The spread of this virus has affected both social and economic affairs on a global scale with more than 15 million confirmed cases worldwide in July 2020. The pandemic has proven a global public health and socio-economic crisis. In addition, the shelter-in-place orders provide an unprecedented opportunity for examining the resulting reduction in greenhouse gases and aerosols on the atmosphere.
The Sentinel-5P satellite has shown distinct changes in atmospheric aerosols over the COVID-19 epicenter in Wuhan. After Texas, U.S. established similar shelter-in-place orders to prevent the spread of the virus, the state’s industrial activity experienced an economic slowdown. This paper quantifies the changes in atmospheric aerosols associated with the COVID-19 slowdown over major cities in Texas and compares it to similar changes in Wuhan, China using satellite imagery.