Air Quality Expert Group - Rapid evidence review Air pollution - - PowerPoint PPT Presentation

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Jan 14, 2024 96 likes •164 views

Air Quality Expert Group - Rapid evidence review Air pollution context and climatology learning from COVID-19 lockdowns Nationwide reduction in transport intensity began mid-March, reached a minimum in The UK has had unusual meteorology in

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Air Quality Expert Group

Rapid evidence review

Air pollution context and climatology – learning from COVID-19 lockdowns

Nationwide reduction in transport intensity began mid-March, reached a minimum in early April. Major sectors contributing emissions of NOx, VOCs and PM. The UK has had unusual meteorology in 2020. Post-lockdown - significant Easterly component, with transboundary pollution contributions

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Air Quality Expert Group

Rapid evidence review

Significant reductions seen UK-wide in NOx and NO2

Top: Raw data from 225 air quality measurement sites across the UK. Bottom: Same data but corrected to account for meteorological variability

Reproduced from Marner, B., Air Quality Consultants, 2020.

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Air Quality Expert Group

Rapid evidence review
Compared to 2019, PM2.5 higher during lockdown - due to Easterly weather
But using computer models, PM2.5 has been lower in many places compared to a

business-as-usual scenario.

Highlights significant AQ influence of wider European emissions.

Reproduced from: Keller C. and Evans, M.J., University of York and NASA Goddard Space Flight Center, 2020.

Business as usual 2020 actual Changes in PM2.5 are more complex to quantify

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Air Quality Expert Group

Rapid evidence review

Reproduced from: Williams, M., on behalf of the Environmental Research Group, King’s College London, 2020.

Exposure to pollution depends where you live, work and how you commute

Less commuting reduces exposure in London, but could be offset by higher

indoor pollution, for example from additional cooking.

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Air Quality Expert Group

Rapid evidence review

Lower NOx emissions in isolation can lead to local increases in ozone

Business as usual 10% lower NOx Lower NOx & VOC Forecasts of a Springtime

zone case study under

COVID-19 emissions Forecasts of a summertime

zone case study under

COVID-19 emissions 30% lower NOx 50% lower NOx Lower NOx

Emphasizes the importance of managing all the key pollutants together with coherent

strategy that recognizes the chemical interconnections

Reproduced from: Agnew, P., et al. Met Office, 2020 and Fakes, L. and Evans, M.J., NCAS / University of York, 2020.