At least there is some good news.
With all the havoc going around, let’s finally have some good news to fill up that sadness.
There have been reports around the world saying that pollution rates have been going down since the act of self-quarantine has been implemented. But since there has been a surge of news on the ongoing pandemic, you’re likely to have missed it.
Here are some of the great news you might have missed in the papers recently.
1.The largest hole in the ozone layer has healed
The unprecedented 2020 northern hemisphere #OzoneHole has come to an end. The #PolarVortex split, allowing #ozone-rich air into the Arctic, closely matching last week’s forecast from the #CopernicusAtmosphere Monitoring Service.
More on the NH Ozone hole➡️https://t.co/Nf6AfjaYRi pic.twitter.com/qVPu70ycn4
— Copernicus ECMWF (@CopernicusECMWF) April 23, 2020
It has been confirmed! The largest hole ever observed in the ozone layer over the Arctic has closed, says Copernicus’ Atmospheric Monitoring Service – the EU’s earth monitoring programme. Sightings of this rare hole was first spotted in late March, and it was thought to be the result of low temperatures at the north pole. But lucky for us, it has been announced the hole has now closed. While it is said that the closing has nothing to do with the reduction in pollution caused by having much of the world on COVID-19 lockdown, it is something to be happy about anyways.
2.Melaka River is cleaner
Sungai Melaka jernih ‘kehijauan’ ketika #PKPhttps://t.co/QKCTKLjDL1 pic.twitter.com/JtyFfgMuDM
— BERNAMA (@bernamadotcom) April 24, 2020
Yes, you heard right! The Melaka River is now greener and cleaner. We all remember the Melaka River to look like our favourite “Teh Tarik”, but now it looks like a brand new river. Many have attributed this to the lack of boating activities, stating that prior to MCO, boats going up and down the river caused the debris from the bottom of the river to come up. Bernama has gone onsite to investigate the incident and came back with proof of the Melaka River looking greater than usual. Hopefully this clean river is here to stay!
3.Cleaner air all around
Air pollution has dropped 60% in some cities under coronavirus lockdown. A new report on major cities found:
🇮🇳 New Delhi: down 60%
🇰🇷 Seoul: down 54%
🇨🇳 Wuhan: down 44% (cleanest air on record)
🇺🇸 Los Angeles: down 31%#EarthDay pic.twitter.com/81oG31FUfH— AJ+ (@ajplus) April 22, 2020
Pollution levels have plummeted as lockdowns shuttered businesses and trapped billions of people at home. This phenomenon can be seen in China’s Hubei province to industrial northern Italy. Even in India, where air pollution is among the world’s worst, “people are reporting seeing the Himalayas for the first time from where they live,” Lauri Myllyvirta, lead analyst at the Helsinki-based Centre for Research on Energy and Clean Air, said to National Geographic. This is looking really good for our earth.
Although experts warn that these unintended pollution declines from the virus outbreak are just temporary, we should work towards a cleaner world. We can see what the effects of 2 months has on our world, imagine what we can do with more time.
What do you think? Let us know in the comment section below!
Header Image : Malaysiakini | CNBC
