Satellite Retrieval of Air Pollution Changes in Central and Eastern China during COVID-19 Lockdown Based on a Machine Learning Model

With the implementation of the 2018–2020 Clean Air Action Plan (CAAP) the and impact from COVID-19 lockdowns in 2020, air pollution emissions in central and eastern China have decreased markedly. Here, by combining satellite remote sensing, re-analysis, and ground-based observational data, we establ...

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Main Authors: Zigeng Song, Yan Bai, Difeng Wang, Teng Li, Xianqiang He
Format: Article
Language:English
Published: MDPI AG 2021-06-01
Series:Remote Sensing
Subjects:
Online Access:https://www.mdpi.com/2072-4292/13/13/2525
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author Zigeng Song
Yan Bai
Difeng Wang
Teng Li
Xianqiang He
author_facet Zigeng Song
Yan Bai
Difeng Wang
Teng Li
Xianqiang He
author_sort Zigeng Song
collection DOAJ
description With the implementation of the 2018–2020 Clean Air Action Plan (CAAP) the and impact from COVID-19 lockdowns in 2020, air pollution emissions in central and eastern China have decreased markedly. Here, by combining satellite remote sensing, re-analysis, and ground-based observational data, we established a machine learning (ML) model to analyze annual and seasonal changes in primary air pollutants in 2020 compared to 2018 and 2019 over central and eastern China. The root mean squared errors (RMSE) for the PM<sub>2.5</sub>, PM<sub>10</sub>, O<sub>3</sub>, and CO validation dataset were 9.027 μg/m<sup>3</sup>, 20.312 μg/m<sup>3</sup>, 10.436 μg/m<sup>3</sup>, and 0.097 mg/m<sup>3</sup>, respectively. The geographical random forest (RF) model demonstrated good performance for four main air pollutants. Notably, PM<sub>2.5</sub>, PM<sub>10</sub>, and CO decreased by 44.1%, 43.2%, and 35.9% in February 2020, which was likely influenced by the COVID-19 lockdown and primarily lasted until May 2020. Furthermore, PM<sub>2.5,</sub> PM<sub>10</sub>, O<sub>3</sub>, and CO decreased by 16.4%, 24.2%, 2.7%, and 19.8% in 2020 relative to the average values in 2018 and 2019. Moreover, the reduction in O<sub>3</sub> emissions was not universal, with a significant increase (~20–40%) observed in uncontaminated areas.
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spelling doaj.art-003775f7373f4ad7979c4a161ccf71552023-12-03T13:15:00ZengMDPI AGRemote Sensing2072-42922021-06-011313252510.3390/rs13132525Satellite Retrieval of Air Pollution Changes in Central and Eastern China during COVID-19 Lockdown Based on a Machine Learning ModelZigeng Song0Yan Bai1Difeng Wang2Teng Li3Xianqiang He4College of Oceanography, Hohai University, Nanjing 210098, ChinaState Key Laboratory of Satellite Ocean Environment Dynamics, Second Institute of Oceanography, Ministry of Natural Resources, Hangzhou 310012, ChinaState Key Laboratory of Satellite Ocean Environment Dynamics, Second Institute of Oceanography, Ministry of Natural Resources, Hangzhou 310012, ChinaState Key Laboratory of Satellite Ocean Environment Dynamics, Second Institute of Oceanography, Ministry of Natural Resources, Hangzhou 310012, ChinaState Key Laboratory of Satellite Ocean Environment Dynamics, Second Institute of Oceanography, Ministry of Natural Resources, Hangzhou 310012, ChinaWith the implementation of the 2018–2020 Clean Air Action Plan (CAAP) the and impact from COVID-19 lockdowns in 2020, air pollution emissions in central and eastern China have decreased markedly. Here, by combining satellite remote sensing, re-analysis, and ground-based observational data, we established a machine learning (ML) model to analyze annual and seasonal changes in primary air pollutants in 2020 compared to 2018 and 2019 over central and eastern China. The root mean squared errors (RMSE) for the PM<sub>2.5</sub>, PM<sub>10</sub>, O<sub>3</sub>, and CO validation dataset were 9.027 μg/m<sup>3</sup>, 20.312 μg/m<sup>3</sup>, 10.436 μg/m<sup>3</sup>, and 0.097 mg/m<sup>3</sup>, respectively. The geographical random forest (RF) model demonstrated good performance for four main air pollutants. Notably, PM<sub>2.5</sub>, PM<sub>10</sub>, and CO decreased by 44.1%, 43.2%, and 35.9% in February 2020, which was likely influenced by the COVID-19 lockdown and primarily lasted until May 2020. Furthermore, PM<sub>2.5,</sub> PM<sub>10</sub>, O<sub>3</sub>, and CO decreased by 16.4%, 24.2%, 2.7%, and 19.8% in 2020 relative to the average values in 2018 and 2019. Moreover, the reduction in O<sub>3</sub> emissions was not universal, with a significant increase (~20–40%) observed in uncontaminated areas.https://www.mdpi.com/2072-4292/13/13/2525air pollutants concentrationCOVID-19 lockdownmachine learningsatellite remote sensing
spellingShingle Zigeng Song
Yan Bai
Difeng Wang
Teng Li
Xianqiang He
Satellite Retrieval of Air Pollution Changes in Central and Eastern China during COVID-19 Lockdown Based on a Machine Learning Model
Remote Sensing
air pollutants concentration
COVID-19 lockdown
machine learning
satellite remote sensing
title Satellite Retrieval of Air Pollution Changes in Central and Eastern China during COVID-19 Lockdown Based on a Machine Learning Model
title_full Satellite Retrieval of Air Pollution Changes in Central and Eastern China during COVID-19 Lockdown Based on a Machine Learning Model
title_fullStr Satellite Retrieval of Air Pollution Changes in Central and Eastern China during COVID-19 Lockdown Based on a Machine Learning Model
title_full_unstemmed Satellite Retrieval of Air Pollution Changes in Central and Eastern China during COVID-19 Lockdown Based on a Machine Learning Model
title_short Satellite Retrieval of Air Pollution Changes in Central and Eastern China during COVID-19 Lockdown Based on a Machine Learning Model
title_sort satellite retrieval of air pollution changes in central and eastern china during covid 19 lockdown based on a machine learning model
topic air pollutants concentration
COVID-19 lockdown
machine learning
satellite remote sensing
url https://www.mdpi.com/2072-4292/13/13/2525
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