Similar drops in pollutants were detected in
China after the government there implemented
widespread shutdowns to try and slow the
spread of COVID-19.
NO2 is a short-lived pollutant, staying in the
atmosphere generally less than a day before
being deposited or reacting with other gases,
meaning it remains fairly close to where it was
emitted, the agency said.
Most emissions are generated by human
activities such as traffic, energy production,
residential heating and industry.
“It is quite remarkable that a signal of
decreasing activity levels could be detected,”
said Vincent-Henri Peuch, the director of the
Copernicus Atmosphere Monitoring Service.
“This shows the extent of the measures taken
by Italy.”