Comparative retrieval approaches for concentrated Suspended Particulate Matter (CSPM) detection in the Ganges using Sentinel-2 and Cloud Computing

In this paper, there are four distinct models utilized for the retrieval of CSPM from the Sentinel 2A/2B satellite imageries by using cloud computing techniques. In this study, a comparative analysis of different CSPM models was carried out at three different sites (Haridwar, Varanasi, and Hooghly). The study reveals that there are significant changes in CSPM in the Ganges in three different periods such as pre, during, and post-COVID. Noteworthy, fewer anthropogenic activities have generated important transformations in aquatic environments during the COVID. © 2023 IEEE.

Global air quality change detection during covid-19 pandemic using space-borne remote sensing and global atmospheric reanalysis

In contrast to existing research that used ground-based observations, in this research we used space-borne observations to study global air quality change during COVID-19 pandemic in 20 countries. It is observed that during lockdown, PM2.5 has reduced in the most of the countries by 56% in 2020 compared to the previous year, whereas, Ghana and Russia show an increasing pattern. It is observed that NO2 has dropped in most of the countries by 3% to 31%, whereas UK and South Africa exhibit an increasing trend. Although spatial variability, low spatial resolution, and mixed pixel impurity may obscure the observation, but the study suggests a space-borne approach can be useful for investigating change in air quality to provide a general insight during COVID-19 pandemic. Our space-borne observations show an improvement in air quality by considerable drop in contaminants in the air in most of the countries except Russia and Ghana during COVID lockdown. © 2020 IEEE.