Some Comments on Air Pollution Levels over Iraq during Covid-19 pandemic period Employing Remotely Sensed Data

Abstract

Tropospheric Carbon monoxide (CO), Total ozone (O3), Nitrogen dioxide (NO2) data derived from Atmospheric Infrared Sounder (AIRS) and Ozone Monitoring Instrument (OMI) sensor on board NASAs Aqua and Aura satellite platforms respectively, These instruments provide consistent spatial and temporal coverage and permit the study of anthropogenic and natural emissions on local-to-global scales. In present paper the employed data product have been analyzed and mapped over Iraq, for 3-year period (2017–2019). Analysis of the study period showed that the overall mean CO, O3, and NO2 over Iraq were (110 ± 6 ) ppb, (306 ± 12) DU, and (3.80 ± 2 ) ×1014 /cm2 respectively. The CO has significant variation with a maximum in spring and winter season, and minimum in summer and fall season. O3 records presented a unique peak which was extended from late-winter (February) to late-spring (May). The NO2 have no obvious seasonal variation. With the highest values occurred during autumn and winter and lowest values happened during spring and summer. Which are mainly concentrated in the most populated cities in country especially Baghdad city. This paper investigated an assessment status pollution levels includes (CO, O3 ,NO2) for the period from (January - May) before and during Covid-19 pandemic period particularly in curfews periods , which measures taken for the pandemics impacts on environmental air quality.