Reducing anthropogenic pollutant emissions during COVID-19 quarantines in 2020 has reduced snowmelt in the Himalayas. This was reported by Beijing Normal University (BNU).
This was learned by Liqiang Zhang and his colleagues during analysis satellite data: MODIS spectroradiometer and ozone monitoring instrument (OMI). Snow and ice on the Tibetan Plateau provide water for more than 20% of the world’s population. But in recent years, ice and snow in the Himalayas have been melting faster and faster. Although much of this melting is due to global warming, atmospheric pollution also contributes, as dark dust and soot particles falling on frozen surfaces absorb solar energy and melt nearby snow and ice. During the COVID-19 outbreak in India from March 25, 2020 to May 31, 2020, a widespread lockdown was in effect, which led to a reduction in economic activity and a drop in traffic flows.
Modeling based on satellite data showed that the reduction in anthropogenic pollutant emissions during the lockdown in India resulted in a 71% reduction in sunlight exposure to Himalayan snow in April 2020 compared to the same period in 2019. This will prevent about 27 megatons of melting. ice and snow. The authors believe that quarantine has become a natural experiment that demonstrates the impact of pollution on the environment.
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