China sees continued decline in NOx emissions despite higher fossil fuel use
Researchers at the Institute of Environment and Ecology, Tsinghua University, developed a novel satellite-based inversion system for real-time monitoring of regional air pollution emissions. By integrating data from this system with other independent observations, the study demonstrates a significant reduction in NOx emissions across China during the specified period.
In 2020, a slight reduction in NOx emissions was attributed to decreased transportation activities, largely impacted by COVID-19 lockdowns. The following years, 2021 and 2022, saw further reductions through stringent air pollution controls in both the industrial and transportation sectors, which accounted for over 70% of the total NOx reduction.
These findings were supported by data from two independent spaceborne instruments-the TROPOspheric Monitoring Instrument (TROPOMI) and the Ozone Monitoring Instrument (OMI). TROPOMI, aboard the European Copernicus Sentinel-5 Precursor launched in 2017, and OMI, aboard NASA's EOS-Aura spacecraft, provided crucial daily data on NO2 levels, essential for this analysis.
The study also noted a persistent increase in China's CO2 emissions during the same period, highlighting the challenges in achieving coordinated management of both air quality and climate pollutants under the existing energy structure.
The authors suggest that the deployment of technologies like the satellite-based inversion system could play a vital role in tracking sector-specific air pollutant emissions with enhanced precision and minimal delay.
Research Report:Trends and drivers of anthropogenic NOx emissions in China since 2020
Related Links
Institute of Environment and Ecology, Tsinghua University
Earth Observation News - Suppiliers, Technology and Application
