Nitrogen dioxide levels in the Czech Republic have declined during anti-coronavirus measures

Brno, April 12 (CTK) – The concentration of nitrogen dioxide has declined after measures adopted due to the coronavirus outbreak were adopted in the Czech Republic, as evidenced by the comparison of satellite images, Jachym Brzezina, from the Czech Hydrometeorological Institute (HMU) has said.

The cause is not quite clear and there may be probably a combination of influences, Brzezina said.

Transport and industry are major sources of nitrogen dioxide.

The satellite images clearly show that in the period between March 16, when the quarantine was declared in the Czech Republic, and April 8, 2020, the concentration of nitrogen dioxide was considerably lower than in the same period in 2019.

The fall is apparent on the maps of the world, Europe, and the Czech Republic.

“In the maps of Europe, one can see a significant decline, especially in towns and industrial areas. We can state almost with certainty that these are not just oscillations due to differing meteorological conditions,” Brzezina said.

However, the situation is more complicated in the Czech Republic since this is a significantly smaller area. The fall in the concentration of nitrogen dioxide is obvious in the territory of the Czech Republic, but the data from measurement stations are unequivocal, Brzezina said.

Some stations have seen a fall in the concentration, but others are registering a growth.

“When it comes to the Czech Republic, given its size, one has to be cautions when the causes of the fall are to be defined,” Brzezina said.

A combination of various influences is the likeliest scenario, he added.

According to the HMU, transport accounts for over one-third and energy and heat production of 25.7 percent of all emissions in the Czech Republic.