Societal shifts due to COVID-19 reveal large-scale complexities and
feedbacks between atmospheric chemistry and climate change
- Joshua L. Laughner
, - Jessica L. Neu,
- David Schimel,
- Paul O. Wennberg,
- Kelley Barsanti,
- Kevin Bowman,
- Abhishek Chatterjee,
- Bart Croes,
- Helen Fitzmaurice,
- Daven Henze,
- Jinsol Kim,
- Eric A. Kort,
- Zhu Liu,
- Kazuyuki Miyazaki,
- Alexander J. Turner,
- Susan Anenberg,
- Jeremy Avise,
- Hansen Cao,
- David Crisp,
- Joost de Gouw,
- Annmarie Eldering,
- John C. Fyfe,
- Daniel L. Goldberg,
- Kevin R. Gurney,
- Sina Hasheminassab,
- Francesca Hopkins,
- Cesunica E. Ivey,
- Dylan B.A. Jones,
- Nicole S. Lovenduski,
- Randall V. Martin,
- Lesley Ott,
- Benjamin Poulter,
- Muye Ru,
- Stanley P. Sander,
- Neil Swart,
- Yuk L. Yung,
- Zhao-Cheng Zeng,
- Junjie LIu
Joshua L. Laughner
Division of Geological and Planetary Sciences California Institute of Technology, Division of Geological and Planetary Sciences California Institute of Technology, Division of Geological and Planetary Sciences California Institute of Technology
Corresponding Author:[email protected]
Author ProfileJessica L. Neu
Jet Propulsion Laboratory California Institute of Technology, Jet Propulsion Laboratory California Institute of Technology, Jet Propulsion Laboratory California Institute of Technology
Author ProfileDavid Schimel
Jet Propulsion Laboratory California Institute of Technology, Jet Propulsion Laboratory California Institute of Technology, Jet Propulsion Laboratory California Institute of Technology
Author ProfilePaul O. Wennberg
Division of Geological and Planetary Sciences California Institute of Technology, Division of Geological and Planetary Sciences California Institute of Technology, Division of Geological and Planetary Sciences California Institute of Technology
Author ProfileKelley Barsanti
Department of Chemical and Environmental Engineering - Marlan and Rosemary Bourns College of Engineering University of California Riverside, Department of Chemical and Environmental Engineering - Marlan and Rosemary Bourns College of Engineering University of California Riverside, Department of Chemical and Environmental Engineering - Marlan and Rosemary Bourns College of Engineering University of California Riverside
Author ProfileKevin Bowman
Jet Propulsion Laboratory California Institute of Technology, Jet Propulsion Laboratory California Institute of Technology, Jet Propulsion Laboratory California Institute of Technology
Author ProfileAbhishek Chatterjee
Universities Space Research Association, Universities Space Research Association, Universities Space Research Association
Author ProfileBart Croes
California Energy Commission, California Energy Commission, California Energy Commission
Author ProfileHelen Fitzmaurice
Department of Earth and Planetary Science University of California Berkeley, Department of Earth and Planetary Science University of California Berkeley, Department of Earth and Planetary Science University of California Berkeley
Author ProfileDaven Henze
Department of Mechanical Engineering University of Colorado at Boulder, Department of Mechanical Engineering University of Colorado at Boulder, Department of Mechanical Engineering University of Colorado at Boulder
Author ProfileJinsol Kim
Department of Earth and Planetary Science University of California Berkeley, Department of Earth and Planetary Science University of California Berkeley, Department of Earth and Planetary Science University of California Berkeley
Author ProfileEric A. Kort
Department of Climate and Space Sciences and Engineering University of Michigan, Department of Climate and Space Sciences and Engineering University of Michigan, Department of Climate and Space Sciences and Engineering University of Michigan
Author ProfileZhu Liu
Department of Earth System Science Tsinghua University, Department of Earth System Science Tsinghua University, Department of Earth System Science Tsinghua University
Author ProfileKazuyuki Miyazaki
Jet Propulsion Laboratory, California Institute of Technology, Jet Propulsion Laboratory, California Institute of Technology, Jet Propulsion Laboratory, California Institute of Technology
Author ProfileAlexander J. Turner
Department of Atmospheric Sciences University of Washington, Department of Atmospheric Sciences University of Washington, Department of Atmospheric Sciences University of Washington
Author ProfileSusan Anenberg
Milken Institute School of Public Health George Washington University, Milken Institute School of Public Health George Washington University, Milken Institute School of Public Health George Washington University
Author ProfileJeremy Avise
Modeling and Meteorology Branch California Air Resources Board, Modeling and Meteorology Branch California Air Resources Board, Modeling and Meteorology Branch California Air Resources Board
Author ProfileHansen Cao
Department of Mechanical Engineering University of Colorado at Boulder, Department of Mechanical Engineering University of Colorado at Boulder, Department of Mechanical Engineering University of Colorado at Boulder
Author ProfileDavid Crisp
Jet Propulsion Laboratory California Institute of Technology, Jet Propulsion Laboratory California Institute of Technology, Jet Propulsion Laboratory California Institute of Technology
Author ProfileJoost de Gouw
Department of Chemistry and Cooperative Institute for Research in Environmental Sciences University of Colorado Boulder, Department of Chemistry and Cooperative Institute for Research in Environmental Sciences University of Colorado Boulder, Department of Chemistry and Cooperative Institute for Research in Environmental Sciences University of Colorado Boulder
Author ProfileAnnmarie Eldering
Jet Propulsion Laboratory California Institute of Technology, Jet Propulsion Laboratory California Institute of Technology, Jet Propulsion Laboratory California Institute of Technology
Author ProfileJohn C. Fyfe
Canadian Centre for Climate Modelling and Analysis Environment and Climate Change Canada, Canadian Centre for Climate Modelling and Analysis Environment and Climate Change Canada, Canadian Centre for Climate Modelling and Analysis Environment and Climate Change Canada
Author ProfileDaniel L. Goldberg
Milken Institute School of Public Health George Washington University, Milken Institute School of Public Health George Washington University, Milken Institute School of Public Health George Washington University
Author ProfileKevin R. Gurney
School of Informatics - Computing and Cyber Systems Northern Arizona University, School of Informatics - Computing and Cyber Systems Northern Arizona University, School of Informatics - Computing and Cyber Systems Northern Arizona University
Author ProfileSina Hasheminassab
Science and Technology Advancement Division South Coast Air Quality Management District, Science and Technology Advancement Division South Coast Air Quality Management District, Science and Technology Advancement Division South Coast Air Quality Management District
Author ProfileFrancesca Hopkins
Department of Environmental Sciences University of California, Riverside, Department of Environmental Sciences University of California, Riverside, Department of Environmental Sciences University of California, Riverside
Author ProfileCesunica E. Ivey
Department of Chemical and Environmental Engineering - Marlan and Rosemary Bourns College of Engineering University of California Riverside, Department of Chemical and Environmental Engineering - Marlan and Rosemary Bourns College of Engineering University of California Riverside, Department of Chemical and Environmental Engineering - Marlan and Rosemary Bourns College of Engineering University of California Riverside
Author ProfileDylan B.A. Jones
Department of Physics University of Toronto, Department of Physics University of Toronto, Department of Physics University of Toronto
Author ProfileNicole S. Lovenduski
Department of Atmospheric and Oceanic Sciences and Institute of Arctic and Alpine Research University of Colorado Boulder, Department of Atmospheric and Oceanic Sciences and Institute of Arctic and Alpine Research University of Colorado Boulder, Department of Atmospheric and Oceanic Sciences and Institute of Arctic and Alpine Research University of Colorado Boulder
Author ProfileRandall V. Martin
McKelvey School of Engineering Washington University in St. Louis, McKelvey School of Engineering Washington University in St. Louis, McKelvey School of Engineering Washington University in St. Louis
Author ProfileLesley Ott
Global Modeling and Assimilation Office NASA Goddard Space Flight Center, Global Modeling and Assimilation Office NASA Goddard Space Flight Center, Global Modeling and Assimilation Office NASA Goddard Space Flight Center
Author ProfileBenjamin Poulter
Biospheric Sciences Laboratory NASA GSFC Goddard Space Flight Center, Biospheric Sciences Laboratory NASA GSFC Goddard Space Flight Center, Biospheric Sciences Laboratory NASA GSFC Goddard Space Flight Center
Author ProfileMuye Ru
The Earth Institute Columbia University, The Earth Institute Columbia University, The Earth Institute Columbia University
Author ProfileStanley P. Sander
Jet Propulsion Laboratory California Institute of Technology, Jet Propulsion Laboratory California Institute of Technology, Jet Propulsion Laboratory California Institute of Technology
Author ProfileNeil Swart
Canadian Centre for Climate Modelling and Analysis Environment and Climate Change Canada, Canadian Centre for Climate Modelling and Analysis Environment and Climate Change Canada, Canadian Centre for Climate Modelling and Analysis Environment and Climate Change Canada
Author ProfileYuk L. Yung
Division of Geological and Planetary Sciences California Institute of Technology, Division of Geological and Planetary Sciences California Institute of Technology, Division of Geological and Planetary Sciences California Institute of Technology
Author ProfileZhao-Cheng Zeng
Joint Institute for Regional Earth System Science and Engineering University of California, Los Angeles, Joint Institute for Regional Earth System Science and Engineering University of California, Los Angeles, Joint Institute for Regional Earth System Science and Engineering University of California, Los Angeles
Author ProfileJunjie LIu
NASA Jet Propulsion Laboratory, NASA Jet Propulsion Laboratory
Author ProfileAbstract
The COVID-19 global pandemic and associated government lockdowns
dramatically altered human activity, providing a window into how changes
in individual behavior, enacted en masse, impact atmospheric
composition. The resulting reductions in anthropogenic activity
represent an unprecedented event that yields a glimpse into a future
where emissions to the atmosphere are reduced. While air pollutants and
greenhouse gases share many common anthropogenic sources, there is a
sharp difference in the response of their atmospheric concentrations to
COVID-19 emissions changes due in large part to their different
lifetimes. Here, we discuss two key takeaways from modeling and
observational studies. First, despite dramatic declines in mobility and
associated vehicular emissions, the atmospheric growth rates of
greenhouse gases were not slowed. Second, it demonstrated empirically
that the response of atmospheric composition to emissions changes is
heavily modulated by factors including carbon cycle feedbacks to CH4 and
CO2, background pollutant levels, the timing and location of emissions
changes, and climate feedbacks on air quality.16 Nov 2021Published in Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences volume 118 issue 46. 10.1073/pnas.2109481118 
