Abstract
Aircraft emit harmful substances, such as carbon dioxide (CO2), water vapour (H2O), nitrogen oxides (NOx), sulphur oxides (SOx), particulates, and other trace compounds. These emissions degrade air quality and can deteriorate human health and negatively impact climate change. Airports are the nucleus of the ground and low-altitude emissions from aircraft during approach, landing, take-off, and taxi. During the global lockdown due to the COVID-19 pandemic, tight restrictions of the movement were imposed, leading to temporary closures of airports globally. In this study, we look at the variability of emissions at two major airports in South Africa, namely the OR Tambo international airport (FAOR) and the Cape Town international airport (FACT). Trend analysis of aircraft movements, i.e., departures and arrivals, showed a sharp decline at the two airports coinciding with the lockdowns to prevent the spread of the COVID-19. Consequently, a decrease in NO2 emissions by 70.45% (12.6 × 10−5 mol/m2) and 64.58% (11.6 × 10−5 mol/m2) at FAOR and FACT were observed, respectively. A noticeable SO2 emission decline was also observed, particularly over FAOR during the lockdown period in South Africa. Overall, this study observed that the global lockdown regulations had a positive impact on the air quality, causing a brief decline in emissions from commercial aviation at the South African major airports.
Highlights
The imposed national lockdowns as a preventative measure of COVID-19 pandemic infections and deaths have inarguably resulted in major devastations to economies and livelihoods around the world, where the fragile developing economies were deeply impacted
The strict lockdown restrictions were meant to reduce movement and lower the chances of COVID-19 transmission, the restriction indirectly played a positive role in improving air quality
This study, which is on the emissions of pollutants over two major airports in South Africa, illustrates how the inactivity of airports resulted in the temporary reduction of the release of harmful constituents to the atmosphere
Summary
The imposed national lockdowns as a preventative measure of COVID-19 pandemic infections and deaths have inarguably resulted in major devastations to economies and livelihoods around the world, where the fragile developing economies were deeply impacted. These measures halted operations of major industries, such as mining, logistics, manufacturing and textile, and the tourism industry. The lockdown measures showed a positive effect on the atmospheric environment, with several studies reporting reductions in anthropogenic emissions across the world, in. In Africa, Kganyago and Shikwambana [11]. Using similar satellite and reanalysis datasets, Shikwambana, Kganyago, and Mhangara [12]
Sign-in/Register to view highlights & summary Sign-in/Register to access full text options 
Talk to us
Join us for a 30 min session where you can share your feedback and ask us any queries you have
Schedule a call
