What happens when NYC stays home?

The COVID-19 pandemic has upended the lives of all New Yorkers. The outbreak has affected many aspects of our daily life, but there are also less apparent effects, such as impacts on our environment.

The NYC Community Air Survey uses air quality monitors to take hourly measurements of fine particulate (PM2.5) at a few sites around the city.

Generally, locations around the city see changes in PM2.5 levels driven by time of day (air quality gets worse during rush hour and business hours) and weather conditions, which can trap pollution in the city or blow it in from other states.

As New York City and surrounding communities have implemented measures to slow the spread of COVID-19, however, the city’s air quality has changed significantly.