<p>This is a topic of almost continual discussion in the South China Morning Post, scmp.com , an English language newspaper in Hong Kong. This is both because air quality is a major problem in China (but one to which they are paying a good deal of attention) and because massive economic interruptions are relatively frequent. The Olympics were a big one, national festivals like Spring Festival, 春节, Chūn jié, give readers a chance to mourn or hope, the current trade war modulates the scale of industry, and now we have Covid-19.</p>

<p>Obviously the virus crisis is bringing about great improvement in current air quality almost everywhere. I doubt that any climatic effects are known yet.</p>

<p>Here's an article which introduces the topic in China -- which is, after all, the major live experiment going on: <a href="https://www.scmp.com/news/china/society/article/3044747/beijings-air-quality-shows-significant-improvements-war" rel="noreferrer">https://www.scmp.com/news/china/society/article/3044747/beijings-air-quality-shows-significant-improvements-war</a></p>

CC BY-SA 4.0
2020-03-24T18:56:58.393Z
We do know that there are big reductions in the emissions of greenhouse gasses, and also this will not have an immediate effect on climate. The effect of changes in aerosol loading on climate will be a very hot research topic. This is a complex research area, and it is hard to get good observations: the recent rapid shut down in emissions will give scientists a lot of new data to work with.
M Juckes
CC BY-SA 4.0
2020-03-23T13:32:51.710Z
2020-03-23T13:32:51.710Z
David Lloyd-Jones
<p>The actions taken to contain the corona-virus epidemic is closing any form of human activities in the world. Schools are closed in most cities of the world, people are told to stay at home and it seems industries are also partially closed. So, chemical emissions from industries and cars will lower significantly. How does this affect the air quality, weather and climate?</p>

<meteorology><atmosphere><climate><weather-forecasting><air-quality>
How will air quality, weather and climate improve because of the containment, social distancing and lockdown during the COVID-19 outbreak?
Gemechu Fanta Garuma
# How will air quality, weather and climate improve because of the containment, social distancing and lockdown during the COVID-19 outbreak?

(Asked by: username_0 on 2020-03-23)

The actions taken to contain the corona-virus epidemic is closing any form of human activities in the world. Schools are closed in most cities of the world, people are told to stay at home and it seems industries are also partially closed. So, chemical emissions from industries and cars will lower significantly. How does this affect the air quality, weather and climate?

**Tags:** meteorology, atmosphere, climate, weather-forecasting, air-quality


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## 1 answers

### Answer by username_1 on 2020-03-23. Score: 5

This is a topic of almost continual discussion in the South China Morning Post, scmp.com , an English language newspaper in Hong Kong. This is both because air quality is a major problem in China (but one to which they are paying a good deal of attention) and because massive economic interruptions are relatively frequent. The Olympics were a big one, national festivals like Spring Festival, 春节, Chūn jié, give readers a chance to mourn or hope, the current trade war modulates the scale of industry, and now we have Covid-19.

Obviously the virus crisis is bringing about great improvement in current air quality almost everywhere. I doubt that any climatic effects are known yet.

Here's an article which introduces the topic in China -- which is, after all, the major live experiment going on: <https://www.scmp.com/news/china/society/article/3044747/beijings-air-quality-shows-significant-improvements-war>

> **Comments:**
> **username_2**: We do know that there are big reductions in the emissions of greenhouse gasses, and also this will not have an immediate effect on climate. The effect of changes in aerosol loading on climate will be a very hot research topic. This is a complex research area, and it is hard to get good observations: the recent rapid shut down in emissions will give scientists a lot of new data to work with.  

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