Air quality fluctuation monitoring and statistical data analysis during COVID-19 pandemic in Siliguri city, India

Bijay Halder; Jatisankar Bandyopadhyay

doi:10.18502/japh.v6i3.8232

Bijay Halder Department of Earth System Sciences, Vidyasagar University, Midnapore, India
Jatisankar Bandyopadhyay Department of Remote Sensing and GIS, Vidyasagar University, Midnapore, India

DOI: https://doi.org/10.18502/japh.v6i3.8232

Keywords: Air quality; Pollution; Covid-19; Urban environment; Siliguri city

Abstract

Introduction: Worldwide coronavirus created is a major problem for human health, food security, economy and many more. World Health Organisation (WHO) named this virus COVID-19. This virus is first detected in Wuhan, China in December 2019 and after that, it’s spreading over the world. Lockdown is healing the environmental condition because major Indian metropolitan cities are recovered from different pollutants. This study is to identify the air quality trend before, during and after the lockdown in Siliguri city, the third-largest city of West Bengal and this city is also a commercial and transportation hub.

Materials and methods: The air quality data have been derived from West Bengal Pollution Control Board (WBPCB) and proceed in MS-Office and ArcGIS 10.4. The air pollutant and week air quality data have been used for monitoring the environmental situation.

Results: In this study, results show that around 70%-90% of air quality is increased during strict lockdown but again air quality is decreased after lockdown gradually. The weekly air quality graph significantly changes during lockdown but after lockdown, the graph was increased. The highest air quality shows 347 before lockdown but during lockdown it’s decreased 25 on 23-24 May 2020. After lockdown public transport, industrial area and small scale industries are reopened and again the air quality increased. The highest air quality shows 353 on 14 January 2021 during unlock 8.0.

Conclusion: This pandemic taught how anthropogenic activates, like urbanization, population pressure and industrial works were endangering the environment and some caution is essential for future livelihood.