Satellite unravels recent changes in atmospheric nitrogen oxides emissions from global ocean shipping

Abstract

Nitrogen dioxide (NO2) in the lower marine atmosphere, mainly emitted by maritime shipping, plays a crucial role in air pollution formation and global human health. However, few measurements of marine atmospheric NO2 hinder knowledge of trace gas trends and atmospheric chemistry evolution due to shipping emissions. In this study, we use long-term satellite observations of tropospheric NO2 column from the European TROPOspheric Monitoring Instrument (TROPOMI) and the Chinese Environmental trace gases Monitoring Instrument (EMI) to analyze marine atmospheric NO2 variations, especially during the global COVID-19 pandemic and escalating geopolitical crises. First, we demonstrate the detection of NO2 enhancements along shipping routes, including the North Atlantic route, the North Pacific route, and the Cape route, indicating significant emissions of atmospheric NO2 from on-ocean shipping. Second, we observe and quantify the response of marine atmospheric NO2 concentrations to major shipping events, such as the Suez Canal blockage, the Los Angeles-Long Beach port congestion, and the Russia-Ukraine war, resulting in local NO2 concentration variations of approximately 40% decrease to 70% increase. Long-term analysis reveals reduced NO2 concentrations in most coastal ports and maritime shipping routes during the COVID-19 lockdown, with reductions exceeding 50% or durations lasting up to 200 days. However, some rapidly developing ports, such as Beibu Gulf (China) and Dakar (Senegal), did not experience a decrease in NO2 concentrations, suggesting that local authorities need to pay more attention to these fast-growing yet underestimated emission sources. In addition, by excluding the impact of meteorology using statistical models, we find that the current Emission Control Area (ECA) policies have effectively reduced NO2 concentrations in Chinese coastal ports. These results contribute to understanding spatiotemporal characteristics of marine atmospheric NO2, including ports and open-sea shipping routes, and guide further ECA policies to control marine NO2 pollution.