COVID-19’s rapid spread led to lockdowns all over the world, meaning an environmental improvement in pollution levels even in the most populated and chaotic cities. The worldwide lockdowns showed profound negative consequences for the world economy, but the planet needed a break, and when this occurred, the environment’s results were amazing.

  • COVID-19 shutdowns led to the most prolonged reduction in human-related seismic vibrations ever recorded.
  • Human-connected Earth vibrations dropped by 50% between March and May.
  • NASA satellites observed a massive reduction in air pollution levels globally, mainly in Paris with a 54% reduction.

In this article, we will interpret two studies, one from Reuters on the effects of the sudden stop of our routines on Earth’s seismic vibrations and one from NASA on the lowered levels of air pollution across the world. Not everything about COVID-19 is negative: lockdown effects are already being felt on the planet, bringing positive repercussions to the atmosphere.

Also Read: NASA Studies: Space Tourism is No Longer For the Future

Scientists Can Listen to Earth Without Human Noise

COVID-related shutdowns worldwide led to the most prolonged and noticeable reduction in human-related seismic vibrations ever recorded, says a Reuters report from July 2020. The same study shows that the decline intensified scientists’ ability to listen to Earth’s natural signals and detect natural phenomenons like earthquakes.

Reuters explains that vibrations travel through the planet “like waves,” generating seismic sounds from volcanoes, wind, earthquakes, or even rivers. The vibrations are also capable of showing human actions such as travel and industry.

The publication states a science journal study conducted earlier this year—through international seismometer networks—proved that human-connected Earth vibrations dropped by 50% between March and May.

seismograph-stock-images
Source: Seismograph stock images

The Science’s journal report was co-led by the Royal Observatory of Belgium and five other institutions using data from 268 monitoring stations in 117 countries.

The seismometer study started in China in late January—the first country heavily affected by the pandemic—and was followed by Europe and the rest of the world from March to April. Researchers and scientists noticed a “wave of quietening”, as worldwide measures were taken to curb the coronavirus pandemic.

With tourism on a complete halt, millions of schools and businesses shut down, and many people in home confinement, the Earth breathed naturally again.

NASA Believes Air Pollution Reduction is Related to COVID-19 Lockdown

The positive effects of the lockdown are continuously being felt by the environment. At first, we talked about the natural vibrations that are now heard more than human noise; now, we mention the reduction in air pollution seen by NASA satellites.

Scientists worldwide are using information from NASA’s Earth-observing satellites along with on-the-ground sensors to study the environmental impacts of the COVID-19 pandemic. Members of NASA’s Goddard Space Flight Center in Greenbelt, Maryland, are creating maps and images that show how COVID-19 has reduced air pollution across the world.

NASA-china-area

In the image provided by NASA, we can see the difference between 2019 and 2020 in the same period in the Wuhan area, China.

Source: NASA (North of US)
Source: NASA (North of US)

NASA also provides images of the North of the US, where air pollution dropped 30%.

NASA-Europe
Source: NASA (Europe)

Despite having usually less air pollution, the captured images show a significant difference in Europe, with the French capital Paris taking the lead by a reduction of 54% on air pollution.

The same NASA laboratory also reveals lower nitrogen dioxide levels in the air on a global scale. Scientists all over the world started studying this phenomenon after China’s shutdown and after realizing the effects were noticed worldwide.

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Despite the pandemic’s devastating social and economic effects worldwide, Earth’s impact gives us a more positive perspective on lockdowns. The planet was—for centuries—bore the human-caused pollutions and carbon emissions of our daily lives.  After the sudden stop of the industries, the planet actually thanked the event that led to its rejuvenation.