Remote Sensing Surveillance of NO 2, SO 2, CO, and AOD along the Suez Canal Pre- and Post-COVID-19 Lockdown Periods and during the Blockage

Gamil Gamal, Omar M. Abdeldayem, Hoda Elattar, Salma Hendy, Mohamed Elsayed Gabr and Mohamed K. Mostafa ()
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Gamil Gamal: Department of Natural Resources, Faculty of African Postgraduate Studies, Cairo University, Giza 12613, Egypt
Omar M. Abdeldayem: Department of Water Supply, Sanitation and Environmental Engineering, IHE Delft Institute for Water Education, Westvest 7, 2611 AX Delft, The Netherlands
Hoda Elattar: Faculty of Behavioral, Managerial and Social Sciences, University of Twente, Drienerlolaan 5, 7522 NB Enschede, The Netherlands
Salma Hendy: Environmental Engineering Program, Zewail City of Science and Technology, 6th October City, Giza 12578, Egypt
Mohamed Elsayed Gabr: Civil Engineering Department, Higher Institute for Engineering and Technology, New Damietta, Ministry of Higher Education, New Damietta 34517, Egypt
Mohamed K. Mostafa: Faculty of Engineering and Technology, Badr University in Cairo (BUC), Cairo 11829, Egypt

Sustainability, 2023, vol. 15, issue 12, 1-19

Abstract: This study investigates the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic and the Ever Given ship blockage on the air quality in Suez Canal region. Nitrogen dioxide (NO 2 ), sulfur dioxide (SO 2 ), carbon monoxide (CO), and aerosol optical depth (AOD) were studied, and data were obtained from satellite instruments. The study compared monthly average data for 2020, 2021, and 2022 with a baseline period of 2017–2019 to investigate the pandemic’s effect. The study also analyzed the corresponding period of the canal blockage to identify its impact on air pollution levels. The pandemic had a significant role in decreasing NO 2 by 2.5 × 10 14 molecule/cm 2 and SO 2 by 0.05 DU due to reduced car traffic and industrial activities. A reduction in AOD by 20% and CO concentration in the range from 3.5% to 4.7% was reported in early 2020. During the blockage, NO 2 and SO 2 levels decreased by 14.4% and 66.0%, respectively, while CO and AOD index increased by 12.68% and 51.0%, respectively. The study concludes that the containment measures during the pandemic had a positive impact on the environment, which shows how the reduction in the anthropogenic activities, especially industrial and transportation activities, have improved the air quality. Thus, stricter actions are needed to protect the environment; for example, the transition towards the using of electric vehicle is necessary, which is part of Egypt’s strategy to transition towards a green economy. The government should also adopt a policy to trade carbon emissions reduction certificates to help reduce air pollution.

Keywords: aerosol; COVID-19; nitrogen and sulfur oxides; particulate matter; Suez Canal; satellite data (search for similar items in EconPapers)
JEL-codes: O13 Q Q0 Q2 Q3 Q5 Q56 (search for similar items in EconPapers)
Date: 2023
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