Quantifying changes in ambient NOx, O3 and PM10 concentrations in Austria during the COVID-19 related lockdown in spring 2020

• DOI: 10.1007/s11869-022-01232-w
• Publication Date: 2022-07-22T09:03:08Z
• Authors: C. Staehle; M Mayer; B. Kirchsteiger; V. Klaus; J. Kult-Herdin; C. Schmidt; S. Schreier; J. Karlicky; H. Trimmel; A. Kasper-Giebl; B. Scherllin-Pirs...; H. E. Rieder
• Keywords: 2019-20 coronavirus outbreak

During spring 2020, unprecedented changes in local and regional emissions have occurred around the globe due to governmental restrictions associated with COVID-19. Many European countries including Austria issued partial curfews or stay-at-home order policies, which impacted ambient air quality through reductions non-essential transportation energy consumption of industrial sites work places. Here, we analyse effect these measures on concentrations nitrogen oxides (NOx), ozone (O3) particulate matter (PM10) during first nationwide lockdown (16.03.2020 14.04.2020). To ensure a robust analysis, Austrian domain is divided into four individual subsectors contingent climate. For analysis novel method applied for filtering days comparable weather conditions 2020 2017 2019. In general, our shows decreasing pollutant concentrations, although magnitude dependent subdomain. Largest are found NOx reaching up -68% at traffic reflecting substantial decrease transport. Changes O3 background show rather weak response declines varying between roughly -18 +8% both median upper tail distribution. Occasional site level increases can be attributed comparably titration night-time. PM10 smallest among pollutants, attributable manifold precursor sources not affected by measures. However, indicates also shift distributions closer observed sites. The online version contains supplementary material available 10.1007/s11869-022-01232-w.