Scientists recently discovered that there may be a connection between the current global health crisis and the reduced incidence of lightning reported during the worldwide shutdown during last year's spring season.
According to California News Times, this was reported at a conference of the non-profit scientific organization American Geophysical Union which specializes in the promotion of the discovery of Earth and Space science
Experts said weather patterns can be drawn for both natural and man-made occurrences. They added, aerosols have a severe effect on the climate and NASA explained, they can contribute as well, to lighting, and fortunately, their ability to change the "balance and energy of Earth."
Essentially, levels of air pollution have dropped as nations all over the world imposed quarantine, restrictions, and blockades aimed at restricting the transmission of COVID-19.
Air Quality Analyzed
Studies have shown that this substantially decreases the amount of aerosol emitted into the atmosphere. The air quality analyzed in 2020 has improved compared to the previous year.
Roughly 84 percent of the countries surveyed report enhancements in the overall quality of air. According to meteorologist and lightning application manager a private environmental monitoring company, Chris Vagasky, "hats track lightning all over the world."
He added, when the number of droplets increases in the atmosphere, collisions of ice and water occur, resulting in charge imbalances, as well as lightning. More so, an unstable atmosphere developed a disadvantageous environment and rain.
Amount of Aerosols Gauged
The Massachusetts Institute of Technology, Vaisala Inc., and the University of triple spent a three-month lockdown in 2020, from March until May, to analyze data from the Global Lightning Detection Network and the Worldwide Lightning Location Network, CNN reported.
By doing so, the researchers measured lighting activity. In a press release, AGU announced it used satellite measurements to gauge the number of aerosols released in the atmosphere.
The research concluded that lightning activity and aerosols declined substantially throughout Africa, Europe, Asia, and the Americas during the period of lockdown.
The study findings are the 2020 annual lightning report of Vaisala. Roughly 170 million lightning events have been recorded in two decades.
Vagasky explained, the whole Americas has dropped by 20 million, roughly 52 million from 2019. Such a reduction in lightning was the biggest year-on-year change that was recorded by Vaisala.
The period from March to May 2020, in particular, was higher than the usual atmospheric stability and lower than normal atmospheric instability on the whole planet.
Link Between COVID-19 and Lightning
The meteorologist also said aerosols are playing a vital role in the amount of lightning received every year, although that is not the only factor.
Vagasky added, it is likely that several specific factors have led to a reduction in the amount of lightning, from massive weather patterns to the collisions of very tiny particles within a thunderstorm.
The study authors have found there may be an association between the COVID-19 pandemic and the reduced incidence of lightning reported during the worldwide shutdown in 2020.
Researchers working on this study have found a probable cause of this drop in lightning activity. It is a decrease of aerosols in the atmosphere, tiny particles of pollution that float in the air.
Related information about COVID-19 and the environment is shown on the European Science Agency's YouTube video below:
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