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Trans-boundary spatio-temporal analysis of Sentinel 5P tropospheric nitrogen dioxide and total carbon monoxide columns over Punjab and Haryana Regions with COVID-19 lockdown impact

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Abstract

This study conducts a spatio-temporal analysis of tropospheric nitrogen dioxide (NO2) and total carbon monoxide (CO) concentrations in the Punjab and Haryana regions of India and Pakistan, using datasets from the Sentinel 5-Precursor (S5P) satellite. These regions, marked by diverse economic growth factors including population expansion, power generation, transportation, and agricultural practices, face similar challenges in atmospheric pollution, particularly evident in major urban centers like Delhi and Lahore, identified as pollution hotspots. The study also spotlights pollution associated with power plants. In urban areas, tropospheric NO2 levels are predominantly elevated due to vehicular emissions, whereas residential activities mainly contribute to CO pollution. However, precisely attributing urban CO sources is complex due to its longer atmospheric residence time and intricate circulation patterns. Notably, the burning of rice crop residue in November significantly exacerbates winter pollution episodes and smog, showing a more pronounced correlation with total CO than with tropospheric NO2 levels. The temporal analysis indicates that the months from October to December witness peak pollution, contrasted with the relatively cleaner period during the monsoon months of July to September. The severe pollution in the OND quarter is attributed to factors such as variations in boundary layer height and depletion of OH radicals. Furthermore, the study highlights the positive impact of the COVID-19 lockdown on air quality, with a significant decrease in NO2 concentrations during April, 2020 (Delhi: 59%, Lahore: 58%). However, the reduction in total CO columns was less significant. The study also correlates lockdown stringency with tropospheric NO2 columns (R2: 0.37 for Delhi, 0.25 for Lahore, 0.22 for Rawalpindi/Islamabad), acknowledging the influence of various meteorological and atmospheric variables. The research highlights the significant impact of crop residue burning on winter pollution levels, particularly on total CO concentrations. The study also shows the notable effect of the COVID-19 lockdown on air quality, significantly reducing NO2 levels. Additionally, it explores the correlation between lockdown stringency and tropospheric NO2 columns, considering various meteorological factors.

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Data availability

The data that support the findings of this study are openly available in Earth Engine data catalog and the script is provided at the link which is customizable to be used for a range of study regions and temporal aggregation scales. https://code.earthengine.google.com/?scriptPath=users%2Fyasir_shabbir%2FS5P_NO2_CO_Paper%3ANO2_TS_2018to2023_monthly_revised

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Beihang University, Haidian District, Beijing, China

    Yasir Shabbir, Zhou Guanhua & Rana AhmadFaraz Ishaq

  2. Institute of Space Technology, Islamabad, Pakistan

    Obaid-ur-Rehman

  3. University College London, London, UK

    Syed Roshaan Ali Shah

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  1. Yasir Shabbir
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  2. Zhou Guanhua
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  3. Obaid-ur-Rehman
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  4. Syed Roshaan Ali Shah
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  5. Rana AhmadFaraz Ishaq
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Contributions

Yasir Shabbir: conceptualization, methodology, software, data curation, and writing—original draft preparation. Rana AhmadFaraz Ishaq: methodology, visualization, investigation, and data analysis. Obaid-ur-Rehman: software, validation, and data analysis. Syed Roshaan Ali Shah: data analysis and writing—reviewing and editing. Zhou Guanhua: data analysis and supervision.

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Correspondence to Yasir Shabbir.

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Shabbir, Y., Guanhua, Z., Obaid-ur-Rehman et al. Trans-boundary spatio-temporal analysis of Sentinel 5P tropospheric nitrogen dioxide and total carbon monoxide columns over Punjab and Haryana Regions with COVID-19 lockdown impact. Environ Monit Assess 196, 291 (2024). https://doi.org/10.1007/s10661-024-12458-9

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