Dr. Hessah Abdulaziz Al Mubarak*

Vol. (14), No. (1), 1440 / 2020

p.p. 69 – 94

Abstract:

Riyadh as a high populated province in KSA, has been selected for air quality mapping and assessment of health impact using Sentinel-5p data. The poor in the air quality in KSA is attributed to the population growth, industrial emissions, dust storms, increase in transportation networks and number of vehicles. Thus, the main objective of the present study is to study the effect of Coronavirus on the quality of air in Riyadh province in KSA before, through and after the lockdowns. In this study, concentrations of SO2, NO2 were investigated in Riyadh province in July 2019, February, April, and July 2020 using Sentinel-5P sensor. Sulphur dioxide (SO2), nitrogen dioxide (NO2) air pollutants are chosen in the present study due to their negative impacts on human health, climate and the environment.  The results of the study revealed a lower concentration of sulphur dioxide (SO2), nitrogen dioxide (NO2) air pollutants since confinement measures began to fight the spread of COVID-19. The results were matched with to the air concentration daily results which obtained from the Air Quality Administration, the General Authority for Meteorology and Environmental Protection.

Keywords: GIS, Sentinel-5P, Riyadh, air pollution, sulphur dioxide (SO2), nitrogen dioxide (NO2).

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* Geography Department, College of Arts, King Saud University, Saudi Arabia