Background
Ship traffic is often criticized for its contribution to air pollution due to the use of heavy diesel engines, which emit pollutants such nitrogen dioxide (NO2), sulfur dioxide (SO2), particulate matter, as well as carbon dioxide (CO2). However, our global economy relies on shipping as the primary means for moving goods and commodities around the globe. The COVID-19 pandemic strongly affected global logistics and supply chains, and hence shipping activity.
Objectives
This challenge asks you to target the characterization of dynamic shipping activities as seen from space. Your analysis may be supported by investigating atmospheric chemistry parameters like NO2 and SO2, motion data from vessel activity, as well as meteorological datasets, e.g., wind fields.
You may explore the following questions in your analysis:
- What are the patterns observed between shipping dynamics and observed air quality parameters?
- How have shipping dynamics along major shipping routes developed during the pandemic in comparison to pre-pandemic years?
- Can you identify underlying seasonal patterns with regard to lifetime of NO2 and SO2 in the atmosphere?
Potential Considerations
- How do cloud over, illumination conditions, and/or daily satellite overpass times affect the analysis?
- What are the implications for identifying shipping routes up/down-wind from heavily populated areas (e.g., Los Angeles, New York, London, The Netherlands, Shanghai, Tokyo)?