Estimating the Impact of Urbanization on Nitrogen Dioxide Emission Over New Delhi Region Using Satellite Imaginary Model—Pre and During COVID Era

Abstract

AbstractUrbanization is the process of slow conversion of most of the rural areas into urban with respect to time. This leads to excess population concentrated in particular areas and other consequences due to urban sprawl, pollution levels, etc. In recent days’ air pollution is being identified as a huge cause of lung disorders and pre-matured deaths in the world, due to fossil fuel combustion, urban transports and many more. In this study, one of the metropolitan cities, New Delhi which is facing lots of pollution problems nowadays has been considered, and the concentration of Nitrogen dioxide (NO2) has been estimated. The analysis was made through a common platform and user-friendly economical tool GIOVANNI developed by NASA. The present study investigates the concentration of NO2 using Ozone Monitoring Instrument to monitor the air pollution hotspot in New Delhi in India that existed before and during COVID-19. The research findings showed that atmospheric NO2 levels during the COVID lockdown period were 0.8E16 per sq.cm, which was doubled (1.6E16 per sq.cm) after the lockdown. These are some of the valid proofs for the fact that air pollution after COVID has been drastically decreased compared to the days before lockdown. Despite the economic and industrial deterioration, the air and water quality has boosted up in a progressive manner, in this temporary lockdown. The findings from this research will be helpful for the legislators to create a benchmarks standard for atmospheric pollution and to improve the quality of life and well-being.KeywordsAir pollutionGiovanniNew DelhiNitrogen DioxideUrbanization