Changing weekend effects of air pollutants in Beijing under 2020 COVID-19 lockdown controls

In 2020, lockdown control measures were implemented to prevent a novel coronavirus disease 19 (COVID-19) pandemic in many places of the world, which largely reduced human activities. Here, we detect changes in weekly cycles of PM_2.5, NO₂, SO₂, CO and O₃ concentrations in 2020 compared to 2018 and 2019 using the observed data at 32 stations in Beijing. Distinct weekly cycles of annual average PM_2.5, NO₂, SO₂ and CO concentrations existed in 2018, while the weekend effects changed in 2020. In addition, the weekly cycle magnitudes of PM_2.5, NO₂, SO₂, and O₃ concentrations in 2020 decreased by 29.60-69.26% compared to 2018, and 4.49-47.21% compared to 2019. We propose that the changing weekend effects and diminishing weekly cycle magnitudes may be tied to the COVID-19 lockdown controls, which changed human working and lifestyle cycles and reduced anthropogenic emissions of air pollutants on weekends more than weekdays.