IASI CO observation
Move the slider left to right to see the impact of covid-19 lockdown in Italy: compare 2020 with the average of the 2 previous years before and during the lockdown. The percentage difference is calculated as follows: 100 x [2020 – mean(2018-2019)] / mean(2018-2019).
- before lockdown: the period 01/02 – 23/02 is considered
- during lockdown: the period 24/02 – 19/04 is considered
TROPOMI NO2 observation
Move the slider left to right to see the impact of covid-19 in Italy: compare 2020 with 2019 before and during the lockdown
before (2019 vs 2020)
during (2019 vs 2020)
IASI NH3 observation
Move the slider left to right to see the impact of covid-19 in Italy: compare 2020 with the average of the 3 previous years during the lockdown
In Europe, nationwide lockdowns have restricted traffic and slowed-down industrial production. Ammonia (NH3) emissions related to those activities are likely reduced. However, agricultural activities, which are responsible for the bulk of the NH3 emissions, have apparently not reduced. In early spring, farmers usually apply fertilizers, which results in a yearly peak of atmospheric NH3 in this time period. This year, the weather was warm and sunny in the relevant time period, which promotes ammonia losses to the atmosphere. This likely explains why this year the IASI satellite measured higher NH3 columns (molec/cm²) than in the previous years (2017-2018-2019).