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No evidence for global decrease in CO2 concentration during the first wave of COVID-19 pandemic
YoungSeok Hwang1, Jong Wook Roh1,2, Dongjun Suh1,3
1Department of Climate Change, Kyungpook National University, 80, Daehak-ro, Buk-gu, Daegu, 41566, South Korea.
Environmental Monitoring and Assessment
|October 27, 2021
Summary
Global COVID-19 lockdowns did not reduce carbon dioxide (CO2) concentrations. Satellite and ground station data show CO2 levels continued to rise globally, challenging previous assumptions about pandemic impacts on climate change.
Area of Science:
- Atmospheric Science
- Climate Change Research
- Environmental Monitoring
Background:
- Previous studies suggested COVID-19 lockdowns decreased global CO2 emissions.
- Estimates were often based on energy consumption or limited local data.
- Objective evidence on global CO2 concentration changes during the pandemic was lacking.
Purpose of the Study:
- To investigate claims of decreased global CO2 concentration during the first COVID-19 wave.
- To provide objective evidence using satellite and ground-based measurements.
- To inform climate change mitigation policies in the post-COVID-19 era.
Main Methods:
- Time-series analysis of long-term CO2 concentration data.
- Comparison of data before and after the first COVID-19 wave (inflection point).
- Utilized data from World Meteorological Organization Global Atmosphere Watch (WMO GAW) and Greenhouse Gases Observing Satellite (GOSAT).
Main Results:
- CO2 concentrations in Europe, China, and the USA continuously rose in March-April 2020 compared to 2019.
- Satellite (GOSAT) and ground station (GAW) data revealed no change in the vertical CO2 profile.
- Global lockdown measures did not alter atmospheric CO2 levels from the surface to the upper atmosphere.
Conclusions:
- The global lockdown during the first COVID-19 wave did not significantly impact global CO2 concentrations.
- Findings challenge previous assumptions and highlight the need for robust data.
- Results provide a foundation for developing effective climate change mitigation strategies.
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