DEADLY VIRUS IN THE AIR? HEY, AT LEAST AIR POLLUTION LEVELS ARE DOWN

Thousands of people are dying, thousands more are hospitalized, the national economy is tanking, and 330 million people all took a government-imposed hiatus from work…due to the Covid-19 virus.

Any good news?   The air is cleaner.

Climate activists can celebrate the face that atmospheric levels of nitrogen dioxide declined 30% in the northeast United States in March.

Why?

Everyone is staying at home.  Few people are flying, major airlines have grounded more of their fleets, cruise ships are stuck in port,  only essential workers are driving, and big polluters like New York City have come to an abrupt halt.

NASA satellites attribute the lower levels of air pollution to the lockdowns in place for the Covid-19 virus.

Nitrogen dioxide comes primarily from car and truck emissions.  Trucks are still hauling cargo and supplies across the country, but car travel is way down.

On the flip side, electricity production produces nitrogen dioxide too, and people are using more electricity in their homes because they are working from home, and staying home all day.

Air pollution levels have also declined in Los Angeles, Seattle, Chicago and Atlanta in the past several weeks.

So, if you head outside, the air you inhale is cleaner than it was a month ago.

Of course, you could inhale a nasty virus if you go anywhere near anyone else, so celebrate with your bad self, and wear a facemask.

Photo by Alpha Media USA Portland OR