From space, you can see the impact of a reduction in nitrogen dioxide over Wuhan in Hubei province. Coronavirus: China's air pollution nearly halved during lockdown, NASA analysis reveals (CNN) Satellite images released by NASA and the European Space Agency reveal that air pollution over China has gone down since the coronavirus … But this year the usual mass movement of humanity when people travel to be with family didn't happen either.Even taking into account the usual drop in NO2 associated with this time of year, levels have fallen 21% below the average for 2015 to 2019.Dr Fei Liu, lead author of the study and NASA researcher, said: "This is the first time I have seen such a dramatic drop-off over such a wide area for a specific event. Production in many factories has been halted and transportation has been restricted to prevent spreading the virus. NASA Images Show Air Pollution In China Dropped During Coronavirus Slowdown China’s manufacturing has taken a hit in recent weeks as the country has halted some transportation and quarantined residents to contain the virus. While less air pollution may seem like a great thing, the recent improvements in air quality around the world, such as over China and Europe, are resulting from efforts (e.g., lockdowns and stay-at-home orders) by cities and countries to reduce the spread of COVID-19. The air pollution study shows the impact of a decline in fossil fuels in a short space of time.Previous studies have shown a significant emissions drop of around a quarter in China during its pandemic lockdown.But efforts to supercharge the economy have left environmentalists downbeat that the lockdown emissions drop will be anything other than a blip over a longer period of time.With its current policies China's greenhouse gas emissions are projected to rise until at least 2030.The choices it makes between the technology of the past and a future of renewables will have a lasting effect on the world's ability to limit warming to 1.5C as set out in the Paris Agreement. NASA and European Space Agency have used pollution monitoring satellites to track nitrogen dioxide levels The difference in concentration of nitrogen dioxide … "This year, the reduction rate is more significant than in past years and it has lasted longer," Liu said. NASA’s Air Quality group will regularly produce images from Aura's Ozone Monitoring Instrument data, showing how nitrogen dioxide (NO 2 ), an air pollutant… Climate change correspondent Nitrogen dioxide is a yellow-brown gas emitted by motor vehicles, power plants, and industrial facilities. "Researchers used data from NASA's Aura satellite and the European Copernicus Sentinel-5 Precursor satellite to measure the levels of nitrogen dioxide and looked at the period of February and March this year when very strict quarantine measures were put in place.Around the time of the Chinese New Year, there is always a decline in industrial activity with people on holiday for the spring break. It can Images over Wuhan showing the pollutant numbers dropping but not rebounding.NASA scientists say the drop was initially most visible over Wuhan, where the outbreak began. Find out what's happening in the world as it unfolds.The satellite images have detected a significant decreases in nitrogen dioxide over China. NASA Air Quality Analysis of the COVID-19 Pandemic. February 10 - 25, 2020 PNG NASA and European Space Agency (ESA) pollution monitoring satellites have detected significant decreases in nitrogen dioxide (NO 2) over China.