TY - JOUR
T1 - A take-home message from COVID-19 on urban air pollution reduction through mobility limitations and teleworking
AU - Badia Moragas, Alba
AU - Langemeyer, Johannes
AU - Gilabert Mestre, Joan
AU - Vidal Canedo, Veronica
AU - Segura Barrero, Ricard
AU - codina, xavier
AU - vives, mar
AU - vilera, nacho
AU - Villalba, Gara
PY - 2021/12
Y1 - 2021/12
N2 - The rigorous traffic limitations during COVID-19 have forced many people to work from home, reaching an outstanding degree of teleworking and reduction in air pollution. This exceptional situation can be examined as a large-scale pilot test to determine the potential of improving urban air quality through teleworking. Based on observed traffic reductions during the COVID-19 lockdown in Barcelona, we formulate socio-occupational scenarios, with various configurations of teleworking, and simulate them using the chemistry transport model WRF-Chem with multi-layer urban scheme. By intensifying teleworking to 2, 3, and 4 days a week, averaged NO 2 concentrations are reduced by 4% (−1.5 μg m −3 ), 8% (−3 μg m −3 ), and 10% (−6 μg m −3 ), respectively, while O 3 increases moderately (up to 3 μg m −3 ). We propose that teleworking be prioritized and promoted as an effective contribution towards reduction of long-term urban air pollution and short-term pollution peaks.
AB - The rigorous traffic limitations during COVID-19 have forced many people to work from home, reaching an outstanding degree of teleworking and reduction in air pollution. This exceptional situation can be examined as a large-scale pilot test to determine the potential of improving urban air quality through teleworking. Based on observed traffic reductions during the COVID-19 lockdown in Barcelona, we formulate socio-occupational scenarios, with various configurations of teleworking, and simulate them using the chemistry transport model WRF-Chem with multi-layer urban scheme. By intensifying teleworking to 2, 3, and 4 days a week, averaged NO 2 concentrations are reduced by 4% (−1.5 μg m −3 ), 8% (−3 μg m −3 ), and 10% (−6 μg m −3 ), respectively, while O 3 increases moderately (up to 3 μg m −3 ). We propose that teleworking be prioritized and promoted as an effective contribution towards reduction of long-term urban air pollution and short-term pollution peaks.
UR - https://www.mendeley.com/catalogue/45e19fa6-1a22-34d9-81ae-4fe43b4d05c5/
U2 - 10.1038/s42949-021-00037-7
DO - 10.1038/s42949-021-00037-7
M3 - Article
SN - 2661-8001
VL - 1
JO - npj Urban Sustainability
JF - npj Urban Sustainability
IS - 1
ER -
