SOCIAL ISOLATION POLICIES AGAINST CORONAVIRUS PANDEMIC AND ITS IMPACT ON METEOROLOGICAL OBSERVING SYSTEMS

Abstract

The COVID-19 pandemic has forced most countries in the world to adopt strict policies of social isolation. As a consequence, there have been positive and negative indirect effects on the environment. For example, some countries have reported improvements in air quality, cleaner beaches, and decreased environmental noise. However, there have also been negative indirect effects. This research aims to analyze the effects of social isolation policies on meteorological observation systems. It was found that the meteorological observations from aircraft as well as surface-based observations have been strongly affected. To a lesser extent, marine and satellite measurements have been affected. Our research highlights the importance of having a resilient and automated meteorological observation system, as well as complementary methods of monitoring the atmosphere and weather.