Nitrogen dioxide concentrations in the NCR appear to be declining, according to a Sentinel-5P based change analysis between 2019 and 2023. This is a sign of improving air quality, as the increased atmospheric concentrations of nitrogen oxides are thought to be detrimental to human health. The map that was produced is displayed below.
Sentinel-5P is an earth observation satellite developed under the Copernicus Programme of the European Space Agency (ESA). It was launched on October 13, 2017. The purpose of this satellite is to monitor air pollution. This satellite is equipped with a sensor called TROPOMI (TROPOspheric Monitoring Instrument). It has the ability to capture nitrogen dioxide concentrations while storing them in the form of images.
The current map was created by averaging the nitrogen dioxide concentrations that were observed during the months of April through June in the years 2019 and 2023. Then, by deducting the average concentrations for 2023 from those for 2019, a difference raster image was produced. Thus, the positive values (green) represented a decrease in the concentration, whereas the negative values (red) represented an increase in the nitrogen dioxide concentration.
Nitrogen dioxide production is thought to be significantly impacted by anthropogenic activities. The various steps taken to introduce electric vehicles may be the reason for a decrease in nitrogen dioxide concentration in the vicinity of Delhi, NCR. However, there is an increased concentration of nitrogen dioxide in the vicinity of thermal power plants, indicating increased activity related to the burning of fossil fuels for the production of electricity.
However, it should be mentioned that this map is only meant to serve as a guide and not to precisely quantify the emission values.
