Shown above are Denver air quality reports for 2020 compared to 2019
Less flights, no ski traffic, no office commuter traffic, no sporting event traffic, no school traffic, no restaurants and bar traffic. Our dirty air is undoubtedly clearing! This may be the “green” lining of the Covid-19 human crisis, the earth finally has a chance to take a breath of cleaner air.
Nitrogen dioxide is part of a group of gaseous air pollutants produced as a result of road traffic and other fossil fuel combustion processes, contributing to the formation and modification of other air pollutants, such as ozone and particulate matter, and to acid rain. The numbers are significantly down in Denver this past March during the Covid-19 shelter-in-place order. Carbon monoxide (CO)—a colorless, odorless, tasteless, and toxic air pollutant—is produced in the incomplete combustion of carbon-containing fuels, such as gasoline, natural gas, oil, coal, and wood. The numbers are also significantly down this March from previous years.
We really need to start rethinking our non-stop population growth, development, and consumer culture, along with commuting and the constant travel to the mountains and beyond.
These Air Pollution/Quality graphics are from: waqi.info
Below is a worldwide map showing air quality from April 13, 2020. It’s sad to see how bad China and India are! Let’s stop this non-stop growth and madness.
