Global lightning activity decreased by nearly 8% in 2020. According to an American scientific study, the drop in pollution, in the wake of restrictions decided around the world to fight the pandemic, could be in question.
Scientists have discovered a possible link between the confinements decided around the world to fight the Covid-19 pandemic, in 2020, and the decrease in the number of lightning strikes reported that year, reports CNN.
According to a study presented in December at the annual meeting of the American Geophysical Union (AGU), a non-profit scientific organization, which the American channel relays on Saturday January 22, global lightning activity decreased by nearly 8% in 2020, while confinements and curfews were introduced around the world. to stem the spread of SARS-CoV-2.
With these restrictions, “air pollution levels had dropped dramatically, reducing the amount of aerosols released into the air”, remember CNN.
According to the researchers, the decrease in atmospheric aerosols, tiny particles of pollution suspended in the air around us, could be a potential cause of the drop in the number of lightning strikes.
“Aerosols help give water droplets in the atmosphere something to hold on to, so definitely having more aerosols will potentially help create the conditions you need to have lightning.”, says Chris Vagasky, meteorologist and head of lightning applications at Vaisala, a private environmental monitoring company that tracks lightning strikes around the world, quoted by the chain.