Investigating the Implications of COVID-19 on PM2.5 in Pakistan
Abstract There are profound impacts of Coronavirus disease-19 (COVID-19) globally, nationally and locally. To assess the impact of COVID-19 on the hourly concentrations of particular matter < 2.5 microns (PM2.5) in Lahore and Karachi, Pakistan, this study employs multifractal analysis. Comparativ...
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| Format: | Article |
| Language: | English |
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Springer
2020-10-01
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| Series: | Aerosol and Air Quality Research |
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| Online Access: | https://doi.org/10.4209/aaqr.2020.07.0459 |
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| author | Hassaan Sipra Faheem Aslam Jabir Hussain Syed Tahir Mumtaz Awan |
| author_facet | Hassaan Sipra Faheem Aslam Jabir Hussain Syed Tahir Mumtaz Awan |
| author_sort | Hassaan Sipra |
| collection | DOAJ |
| description | Abstract There are profound impacts of Coronavirus disease-19 (COVID-19) globally, nationally and locally. To assess the impact of COVID-19 on the hourly concentrations of particular matter < 2.5 microns (PM2.5) in Lahore and Karachi, Pakistan, this study employs multifractal analysis. Comparative analysis of high frequency (hourly) PM2.5 data for both cities from February to April for 2019 and 2020 revealed inner dynamics of time series through seasonal and trend decomposition (STL) first, then multifractal detrended fluctuation analysis (MFDFA). The empirical findings confirmed existence of multifractality in hourly PM2.5. Based on multifractal properties, efficiency of Lahore declines during COVID-19. Furthermore, a varying impact of COVID-19 is found on the strength of multifractality of PM2.5 under consideration. Drastic, significant change is found on the efficiency of air quality in Lahore before and during COVID-19 periods. Before COVID-19, PM2.5 remains relatively efficient, while during COVID-19 period it shows high multifractality, the opposite of which is true for Karachi. However, all series exhibit anti-persistent (negatively correlated) behavior before and during COVID-19, with respect to the remainder component of PM2.5 concentration. This means that when PM2.5 concertation is high at a given time, in the next period, the concentration will be low. Intuitively, this is accurate, given that hourly PM2.5 concentrations change with economic activity, which oscillates in daily cycles of high and low PM2.5 concentrations. In Lahore significantly lower efficiency is observed during COVID-19; no conclusion on lockdown can be made. In Karachi, higher efficiency was achieved COVID-19, which was well correlated with the before COVID-19 period, implying effective lockdown policy. The confirmation and examination of multifractality in PM2.5 concentrations of Lahore and Karachi presents researchers and policymakers with a distinct signature for the impact of COVID-19. It provides validation for the development of such policy evaluation tools, with reference to air quality in Pakistan. |
| format | Article |
| id | doaj-art-9780421df6854ae4bda666a84f4e1762 |
| institution | Kabale University |
| issn | 1680-8584 2071-1409 |
| language | English |
| publishDate | 2020-10-01 |
| publisher | Springer |
| record_format | Article |
| series | Aerosol and Air Quality Research |
| spelling | doaj-art-9780421df6854ae4bda666a84f4e17622025-02-09T12:21:41ZengSpringerAerosol and Air Quality Research1680-85842071-14092020-10-0121211410.4209/aaqr.2020.07.0459Investigating the Implications of COVID-19 on PM2.5 in PakistanHassaan Sipra0Faheem Aslam1Jabir Hussain Syed2Tahir Mumtaz Awan3Centre for Climate Research and Development, COMSATS University Park Road Tarlai KalanDepartment of Management Sciences, COMSATS University Park Road Tarlai KalanDepartment of Meteorology, COMSATS University Park Road Tarlai KalanDepartment of Management Sciences, COMSATS University Park Road Tarlai KalanAbstract There are profound impacts of Coronavirus disease-19 (COVID-19) globally, nationally and locally. To assess the impact of COVID-19 on the hourly concentrations of particular matter < 2.5 microns (PM2.5) in Lahore and Karachi, Pakistan, this study employs multifractal analysis. Comparative analysis of high frequency (hourly) PM2.5 data for both cities from February to April for 2019 and 2020 revealed inner dynamics of time series through seasonal and trend decomposition (STL) first, then multifractal detrended fluctuation analysis (MFDFA). The empirical findings confirmed existence of multifractality in hourly PM2.5. Based on multifractal properties, efficiency of Lahore declines during COVID-19. Furthermore, a varying impact of COVID-19 is found on the strength of multifractality of PM2.5 under consideration. Drastic, significant change is found on the efficiency of air quality in Lahore before and during COVID-19 periods. Before COVID-19, PM2.5 remains relatively efficient, while during COVID-19 period it shows high multifractality, the opposite of which is true for Karachi. However, all series exhibit anti-persistent (negatively correlated) behavior before and during COVID-19, with respect to the remainder component of PM2.5 concentration. This means that when PM2.5 concertation is high at a given time, in the next period, the concentration will be low. Intuitively, this is accurate, given that hourly PM2.5 concentrations change with economic activity, which oscillates in daily cycles of high and low PM2.5 concentrations. In Lahore significantly lower efficiency is observed during COVID-19; no conclusion on lockdown can be made. In Karachi, higher efficiency was achieved COVID-19, which was well correlated with the before COVID-19 period, implying effective lockdown policy. The confirmation and examination of multifractality in PM2.5 concentrations of Lahore and Karachi presents researchers and policymakers with a distinct signature for the impact of COVID-19. It provides validation for the development of such policy evaluation tools, with reference to air quality in Pakistan.https://doi.org/10.4209/aaqr.2020.07.0459PM2.5Air qualityMultifractal analysisCOVID-19Lockdown |
| spellingShingle | Hassaan Sipra Faheem Aslam Jabir Hussain Syed Tahir Mumtaz Awan Investigating the Implications of COVID-19 on PM2.5 in Pakistan Aerosol and Air Quality Research PM2.5 Air quality Multifractal analysis COVID-19 Lockdown |
| title | Investigating the Implications of COVID-19 on PM2.5 in Pakistan |
| title_full | Investigating the Implications of COVID-19 on PM2.5 in Pakistan |
| title_fullStr | Investigating the Implications of COVID-19 on PM2.5 in Pakistan |
| title_full_unstemmed | Investigating the Implications of COVID-19 on PM2.5 in Pakistan |
| title_short | Investigating the Implications of COVID-19 on PM2.5 in Pakistan |
| title_sort | investigating the implications of covid 19 on pm2 5 in pakistan |
| topic | PM2.5 Air quality Multifractal analysis COVID-19 Lockdown |
| url | https://doi.org/10.4209/aaqr.2020.07.0459 |
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