Performance evaluation of COVIDs closure on air quality index concentration (PM2.5, PM10, NO2, and O3) over central, south, and north parts of Iraq

Abstract

When the confirmed COVIDs cases were raised in Iraq in the middle of Feb. 2021, the Iraqi government performed a closure approach to constrain mobility movements, factory operations and keeping private social distance. In this research, the concentrations of air components (PM52.5, PM 10, NO 2, and O 3), which represent herein the degree of air quality index (AQI), are recorded, drawn, and evaluated over the central (Baghdad the capital), northern (Kirkuk province), southern (Basra province) of Iraq before and during the closure. The duration experiment of this research is 6 months (from 1 Jan. 2021 to 30 Jun. 2021), which included four durations: Pre-closure, first closure (total and partial), second closure (total and partial), and third closure (partial). Besides, the total-closure and partial-closure impact on the quality of the atmosphere layer is evaluated and assessed over Iraq in terms of SENTINEL – 5PSATELLITE/TROPOMI and GIOVANNE – EARTH – DATA images. The results revealed that air pollutants were dropped during the closure time except at the end of the 3rd period of closure due to the lack of people commitment by breaking the closure strategy based on economic reasons. It was observed that the lockdown is one of the best solutions to defeat the Coronavirus pandemic and significantly improve the air quality index, although it has several disadvantages effects on the economic front of the country. Eventually, since people stay at their residence home, the concentration of air pollutants becomes low and the air quality index getting better.