PM2.5 diminution and haze events over Delhi during the COVID-19 lockdown period: an interplay between the baseline pollution and meteorology

• Published in: Scientific reports 2020-08, Vol.10 (1), p.1-8, Article 13442
• Main Authors: Dhaka, Surendra K., Chetna, Kumar, Vinay, Panwar, Vivek, Dimri, A. P., Singh, Narendra, Patra, Prabir K., Matsumi, Yutaka, Takigawa, Masayuki, Nakayama, Tomoki, Yamaji, Kazuyo, Kajino, Mizuo, Misra, Prakhar, Hayashida, Sachiko
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Subjects: 639/766; 704/106; 704/172; Aerosols; Air pollution; Air quality; Air temperature; Anthropogenic factors; Burning; Coronaviruses; COVID-19; Emissions; Haze; Humanities and Social Sciences; Megacities; Meteorology; multidisciplinary; Outdoor air quality; Particulate matter; Science; Science (multidisciplinary); Shelter in place
• ISSN: 2045-2322; 2045-2322
• DOI: 10.1038/s41598-020-70179-8

Delhi, a tropical Indian megacity, experiences one of the most severe air pollution in the world, linked with diverse anthropogenic and biomass burning emissions. First phase of COVID-19 lockdown in India, implemented during 25 March to 14 April 2020 resulted in a dramatic near-zeroing of various activities (e.g. traffic, industries, constructions), except the “essential services”. Here, we analysed variations in the fine particulate matter (PM 2.5 ) over the Delhi-National Capital Region. Measurements revealed large reductions (by 40–70%) in PM 2.5 during the first week of lockdown (25–31 March 2020) as compared to the pre-lockdown conditions. However, O 3 pollution remained high during the lockdown due to non-linear chemistry and dynamics under low aerosol loading. Notably, events of enhanced PM 2.5 levels (300–400 µg m −3 ) were observed during night and early morning hours in the first week of April after air temperatures fell close to the dew-point (~ 15–17 °C). A haze formation mechanism is suggested through uplifting of fine particles, which is reinforced by condensation of moisture following the sunrise. The study highlights a highly complex interplay between the baseline pollution and meteorology leading to counter intuitive enhancements in pollution, besides an overall improvement in air quality during the COVID-19 lockdown in this part of the world.