International Journal of Ecology and Environmental Sciences
Spatiotemporal Effect of Lockdown Amid COVID-19 Pandemic on Air Quality of Kullu Valley, Northwest Himalaya, India
Abstract
The present study is an attempt to evaluate the effects of Lockdown or curfew due to COVID-19, on air quality index of Kullu valley. The Air Quality was monitoring from January 2019 to June 2019 and same time in the next year during COVID-19 period from January 2019 to June 2019 at Mohal-Kullu (1146). PM10 and PM2.5 are showing highest average value as 80.2±3 µg m-3 and 32.5±1 µg m-3respectively before lockdown period. While lowest PM10 and PM2.5 concentration 8.5 µg m-3 and 6.3 µg m-3respectively was recorded during lockdown period. Similarly the Air Quality Index trend shows the Lowest index value which is 5 during lockdown period and highest 25 value was calculated before lockdown period. The reason behind that all the vehicular and Industrial activities were closed, the effect of which is that the 80% pollution emission has reduced. Before lockdown some samples of particulate pollutants have crossed the permissible limit (100 µg m-3) prescribed by National Ambient Air Quality Standards (NAAQS). It is also made clear from HYSPLIT model and CALIPSO analysis that the sources of pollutants are mainly local in nature. The Air Quality Index (AQI) study reveals that air quality of Mohal falls under good condition but during lockdown the Air Quality was extremely good.
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References
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