THE IMPACT OF THE COVID-19 LOCKDOWN MEASURES ON AIR QUALITY IN SLOVENIA IN 2020
Abstract
During the period of movement and mobility restrictions due to the Covid-19 measures, some emissions, mainly from transport, were significantly reduced, consequently impacting air quality worldwide, including in Slovenia. The most pronounced reduction in pollution in our country, by an average of 40% and more, was observed for nitrogen oxides during the major lockdown period in spring 2020. In November and December, the reduction in nitrogen oxides was about half as much. The impact on air pollution from PM10 particles was less pronounced, averaging 20% in spring compared to previous years. In November and December (during the heating season), the impact of year-on-year variability of meteorological conditions on PM10 particle levels was such that no reliable conclusion can be drawn on the impact of the measures. In the case of ozone, too, no reliable impact was detected in the spring period, and it should be noted that although high ozone levels are typical of the summer period, there was no significant reduction in emissions due to the Covid-19 measures.
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