Monitoring the impact of the Corona pandemic on nitrogen dioxide emissions at large scales via Google Earth Engine

Advances in Earth observation capabilities and the expanded accessibility of data provide the opportunity to monitor air pollution on a global scale. The Google Earth Engine (GEE) enables the efficient conduct of such large-scale research. This article examines the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on NO2 emissions at various supranational scales, with particular consideration of the Human Development Index of the countries, using GEE. The findings for the first three months of 2020 indicating a reduction in emissions of more than 4% per month, demonstrate that not only were the restrictions and closures imposed by governments effective in the global decline of NO2 levels, but also voluntary restrictions imposed by people on their own mobility with the motive of protection from the pandemic.