From clearer skies, to transparent waters, and additional space for animals to roam, the natural environment is seeing big changes.
The coronavirus is devastating some sections of the population in countries worldwide. With the global shutdown, however, the Earth’s body is truly benefiting in some ways. The natural environment is experiencing a cleansing, so to speak. With factories closed and major traffic off most roads, we are seeing the air clear as well as waterways. Animals are roaming where they haven’t and mountain ranges are appearing from the curtains of smog. People are staying home and the skies are thankful.
Here are five ways the environment is benefiting, while humans face, what is in some cases, the fight of their lives.
1) Clear US Air
Certain kinds of scientists measure the air regularly for levels of pollution and general air quality. During the coronavirus shut-down NBC News reports the average concentration of fine particulate matter in the air that normally causes an increase in asthma attacks and troubled breathing has dropped in many major US cities by about 30% to 40% by mid-March. This includes Seattle, New York CIty and other major cities in the country.
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2) Clear Waters in Venice
The water in Venice’s canals tends to be a bit murky due to all the boat traffic it normally sees. These days, however, the canals are reported to be running clear. Very few people have reason to travel. Small fish are even seen swimming about, a phenomenon not often experience prior to the pandemic.
3) Dropping Carbon Dioxide in China
Lauri Myllyvirta, an analyst at the Centre for Research on Energy and Clean Air in Finland, says that China’s air is clearing up. During the pandemic’s height in China severe restrictions resulted in the country largely coming to a standstill. Factories shut down and borders closed preventing people from traveling outside and inside the country. Myllyvirta says, compared with last year, the restrictions resulted in a 25% dip in China’s carbon dioxide emissions in January.
Related: COVID-19-Can We Believe China’s Numbers?
4) Animals Wandering Freely
It would seem that some animals would greatly appreciate having more room to wander than we actually normally give them. Lions are now napping on empty roads, goats are roaming the streets of Wales, and sea lions are taking to sidewalks in Argentina.
5) Seeing the Himalayas for the First Time
Sadly, even if you live in India within a relatively close proximity of the Himalayan mountains, you may never have seen them. The air pollution is normally too thick to see through. Conditions have been like this for perhaps up to ten years or more. But not now. Reports indicate that some Indian people are now seeing these magnificent mountains for the first time, and are celebrating the occasion.
While the coronavirus pandemic gives us much to worry about, in other ways it is easing our concerns. If we can just take action and maintain low pollution levels after the pandemic, we will truly get ahead.
Photo credits: Forplayday/Bigstock
