Decline in PM2.5 Concentrations over Major Cities Around the World Associated with COVID-19

The COVID-19 started from Wuhan city in China, slowly spread across the globe after December 2019. Due to movement of people from one city to other cities, one country to other countries, infection spreads and COVID-19 became a pandemic. Efforts were made at local, regional and national levels to lockdown the movement of people and to keep infected one in quarantine or isolation to stop the spread of COVID-19. The traffic, market and small industries were closed, as a result pronounced decline in the concentrations of particulate matters (PM) were observed. Normally these sources contribute to the high concentrations of particulate matters (PM2.5) which represents air quality of a location. In this short communication, we present analysis of PM2.5 of major cities (New York, Los Angeles, Zaragoza, Rome, Dubai, Delhi, Mumbai, Beijing and Shanghai) around the world suffered severely with the COVID-19. Our analysis shows decline in PM2.5 concentration due to lockdown, mainly due to less movement of people to keep “social distancing” to control the spread of CORONA-19. The low concentrations of PM2.5 reflect the efforts made in the cities to curb the spread of infection, that improve air quality

Effect of Lockdown on HCHO and Trace Gases over India during March 2020

COVID-19 is one of the deadly Epidemics that has impacted people living in more than 200 countries. In order to mitigate the impact of COVID-19, India observed total lockdown in the first phase for a period of 21 days (24 March–13 May 2020), so that social distancing is maintained. However, this sudden decision severely affected the normal life of people. The air quality improved due to lockdown, some relaxation was given in different cities and within some areas in the city where the people were not affected by COVID-19. In this paper, we discuss results of detailed analysis of trace gases (HCHO, NO2, SO2, CH4, CO and O3) and particulate matter concentration using satellite and ground data in major metropolitan cities of India during 10–31 March, 2020 and compared with the same period in the year 2019, to study the impact of total lockdown. Our analysis suggests, pronounced qualitative changes in HCHO, NO2, SO2, CH4, CO, O3and PM2.5 concentration during complete lockdown period in the month of March 2020. We did not consider the period after 31 March 2020 to avoid influence of anthropogenic sources since the Government made relaxation in the lockdown periods after 31 March 2020

A Critical Analysis of Sulaiman Layeq’s Literary Life in Afghan Literature

This article strives to explore the literary life of a famous and national poet and writer of Afghani literature – Sulaiman Layeq. He, in modern Pashto literature, spent more than eight decades fighting for the reform of Afghan society. He has published about thirteen works both in poetry and prose. His most important work is Chunghar (1962) for which he was awarded the literature prize in Afghanistan. Different sources and e-sources were checked and reviewed, and the collected data were analyzed based the on thematic analysis technique. In the result as one of the major objectives of the study was that Layeq despite being a famous political figure in the Afghan government he was an accepted national and regional Pashto and Dari language short story writer and a revolutionary poet. He was a literary figure both as a modern writer and a social realist. He has been literary critiqued by many literary scholars according to whom he is a splendid, rebelling, and multiethnic poet. He, with a simple and new literary style, was directly addressing what he was supposed to reform through his writings

Impact of Lockdown on Air Quality in India During COVID-19 Pandemic

First time in India, total lockdown was announced on 22 March 2020 to stop the spread of COVID-19 and the lockdown was extended for 21 days on 24 March 2020 in the first phase. During the total lockdown, most of the sources for poor air quality were stopped in India. In this paper, we present an analysis of air quality (particulate matter-PM2.5, Air Quality Index, and tropospheric NO2) over India using ground and satellite observations. A pronounced decline in PM2.5 and AQI (Air Quality Index) is observed over Delhi, Mumbai, Hyderabad, Kolkata, and Chennai and also a declining trend was observed in tropospheric NO2 concentration during the lockdown period in 2020 compared with the same period in the year 2019. During the total lockdown period, the air quality has improved significantly which provides an important information to the cities’ administration to develop rules and regulations on how they can improve air quality

Increasing Health Threat to Greater Parts of India Due to Crop Residue Burning

Rice crop residue burning during mid-October to November every year is becoming a serious health threat because of increased burning by farmers in the states of Punjab, Haryana, and western Uttar Pradesh in northern India. Crop residue burning started in the late 1980s with the start of mechanised harvesting in Punjab. Farmers found burning to be an economical way of cleaning crop stalk residues that are left over by mechanised harvesters. In doing so, farmers ignore the impact of this practice on health and air quality in the cities located in the Indo-Gangetic Plains. In the winter season, the severity of this problem increases as dispersion of smoke plumes is slowed down because of cold temperatures, whereas during the summer season the problem does not exist because of fast dispersion of plumes from burning. The practice of crop residue burning that started in Punjab has slowly spread to other adjoining states in northern India. We have found that the impact of crop residue burning on air quality is not restricted to cities in the Indo-Gangetic Plains alone, but is spreading to the far eastern parts of the Indo-Gangetic Plains and over central and southern parts of India, including parts of Bihar, Jharkhand, West Bengal, Madhya Pradesh, Chhattisgarh, Odisha, Telangana, and Maharashtra. We used diverse climate datasets derived from different NASA space platforms as well as global climate models and ground stations for our analysis

Coupling between Land–Ocean–Atmosphere and Pronounced Changes in Atmospheric/Meteorological Parameters Associated with the Hudhud Cyclone of October 2014

India is vulnerable to all kinds of natural hazards associated with land, ocean, biosphere, atmosphere, and snow/glaciers. These natural hazards impact large areas and the population living in the affected regions. India is surrounded by ocean on three sides and is vulnerable to cyclonic activities. Every year cyclones hit the east and west coasts of India, affecting the population living along the coasts and infrastructure and inland areas. The extent of the affected inland areas depends on the intensity of the cyclone. On 12 October 2014, a strong cyclone “Hudhud” hit the east coast of India that caused a high degree of devastation along the coast. The impact of this cyclone was seen up to the Himalayan region. Detailed analysis of satellite and ground data show a strong coupling between land-ocean-atmosphere associated with the Hudhud cyclone. The contrast between land and ocean temperature was found to be closely related with the formation of the cyclone in the ocean and its movements towards land. Pronounced changes in the ocean, land, atmospheric, and meteorological parameters with the development of the cyclone and its landfall have been observed. Changes in total column ozone (TCO), relative humidity (RH), and volume mixing ratio of CO (CO VMR), water mixing ratio (H2O MMR), surface latent heat flux (SLHF), and aerosol optical properties derived from satellite data show characteristic behavior of the Hudhud cyclone

Awareness regarding abortions and medical termination of pregnancy act among medical students in Puducherry, India

Background: Maternal mortality is an important indicator of women’s health and social well-being. According to the WHO report,each year, an estimated 190 women for every 100,000 live births die due to maternal causes. In India, unsafe abortion and related complications accounts for 9% of all maternal deaths. Abortion was made legal in India by the Medical Termination of Pregnancy (MTP) act, which was enacted by Indian Parliament in the year 1971. But the number of unsafe abortions has not declined.Methods:A present study was conducted by the Department of Obstetrics and Gynaecology of Pondicherry Institute of Medical Sciences, in Puducherry, India. All undergraduate students of VIIth semester MBBS participated in the study. A pre-designed semi-structured questionnaire was used to collect information regarding the awareness and perceptions on abortion care and Medical Termination of Pregnancy Act in India. Data were entered in Microsoft Excel 2007. Averages were calculated and chi square test was applied to find the significant difference.Results: Among a total of 75 participants, 41(54.7%) were female and 34 (45.3%) were male students. Majority of the students (97.3%) were aware of the fact that unsafe abortions are a serious health problem in India and all of the students (100.0%), were aware of the MTP Act of India. But only 36.0% students were aware of the fact, that consent from husband was not required to undergo abortion. To reduce the number of unsafe abortions in India majority of the medical students (45.3%) were of the opinion that easy access to MTP services in the community is an effective measure.Conclusions: Legalization of abortions through the MTP Act in India resulted in a considerable decrease in maternal mortality through the decline in abortions but it has failed to ensure effective implementation and access to medically safe abortion services. Training in basic contraceptive counseling and abortion care should be incorporated in basic medical education in India.

Awareness about PCPNDT act among undergraduate students of a medical college in Puducherry

Background: Sex selective abortions have become a significant social phenomenon in contemporary India. In order to curb sex selective abortions, the Pre-Natal Diagnostic Techniques (PNDT) Act was passed in the year 1994.Methods: A cross-sectional study was conducted by the Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology in Puducherry among 75 medical under-graduate students. A semi-structured, pre-designed questionnaire was used to collect the information on their knowledge, attitude and perception regarding gender discrimination and prenatal sex determination act.Results: Only 34 (45.3%) students were correctly aware of the prevailing sex ratio in India. Most common source of information for awareness was internet (44.1%), followed by newspaper (41.1%), and family/friends (14.7%). Majority (74.7%) of the students were aware of the PCPNDT Act. Awareness about PCPNDT Act among female students (85.4%) was higher as compared to male students (61.8%). Only half of the students (56.0%) correctly reported about the punishment for sex determination and implication of feticide (fine and imprisonment both).Conclusions: Awareness regarding the altered sex ratio and the PCPNDT Act was poor among medical undergraduates. In order to combat the poor awareness regular workshops and continuing medical education sessions (CMEs) should be conducted

Dynamics of Amphan Cyclone and Associated Changes in Ocean, Land Meteorological and Atmospheric Parameters

The low-pressure system developed in the Bay of Bengal and the Andaman Sea during March- October, often forms tropical cyclones, depending upon the intensity widespread destruction occurs in the areas where landfall takes place along the Indian coastal region. On 20 May, 2020, tropical cyclone Amphan hit the Indian coast at Bakkhali, West Bengal, in the afternoon (1330 IST). On 19 May, 2020, the intensity strengthened into a super cyclonic storm, with a strong wind speed up to 220 km/h. This cyclone affected a large population of India and Bangladesh. More than twenty-two thousand houses were damaged and millions of people were shifted to a safe place and due to the spread of COVID-19, the rescue missions were quite challenging. The cyclone affected most of the eastern states of India, heavy rainfall occurred causing floods along the track of cyclones. Using multi-satellite, ground and Argo floats data, we have analyzed meteorological and atmospheric parameters during May 2020. Our detailed analysis shows pronounced changes in atmospheric (CO mole fraction, total ozone column) and ocean parameters (chlorophyll concentration, dissolved oxygen, salinity, sea surface and sub-surface temperature) before and after the cyclone. Changes in ocean parameters such as caused by the cyclone Amphan along its track and the atmospheric and meteorological parameters change as the cyclone moves over the land

Impact of Deadly Dust Storms (May 2018) on Air Quality, Meteorological, and Atmospheric Parameters Over the Northern Parts of India

The northern part of India, adjoining the Himalaya, is considered as one of the global hot spots of pollution because of various natural and anthropogenic factors. Throughout the year, the region is affected by pollution from various sources like dust, biomass burning, industrial and vehicular pollution, and myriad other anthropogenic emissions. These sources affect the air quality and health of millions of people who live in the Indo‐Gangetic Plains. The dust storms that occur during the premonsoon months of March–June every year are one of the principal sources of pollution and originate from the source region of Arabian Peninsula and the Thar desert located in north‐western India. In the year 2018, month of May, three back‐to‐back major dust storms occurred that caused massive damage, loss of human lives, and loss to property and had an impact on air quality and human health. In this paper, we combine observations from ground stations, satellites, and radiosonde networks to assess the impact of dust events in the month of May 2018, on meteorological parameters, aerosol properties, and air quality. We observed widespread changes associated with aerosol loadings, humidity, and vertical advection patterns with displacements of major trace and greenhouse gasses. We also notice drastic changes in suspended particulate matter concentrations, all of which can have significant ramifications in terms of human health and changes in weather pattern