Satellite images show how pollution cleared over China following Coronavirus outbreak

Satellite images from NASA show how pollution has cleared over China as the coronavirus outbreak keeps people indoors and factories are forced to close. NASA and the European Space Agency used pollution monitoring satellites to track the decrease in nitrogen dioxide levels over the past two months, the Daily Mail reported.

The difference in concentration of nitrogen dioxide is revealed in two maps released by the space agencies.

Scientists first noticed the difference around Wuhan, the epicentre of the virus, after Chinese authorities shut down transport in and out of the city as well as shutting down businesses to quarantine the outbreak.

Nitrogen dioxide is a noxious gas which is released during fuel combustion and emitted by cars, power plants and industrial facilities and forms when fossil fuels such as coal, gas or diesel are burned at high temperatures and can cause a range of harmful effects on the lungs including increased inflammation of the airways and a greater risk of asthma attacks.

Air quality researcher at NASA’s Goddard Space Flight Center Fei Liu said: ‘This is the first time I have seen such a dramatic drop-off over such a wide area for a specific event.’

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