Srija Patcha ’23, Computer Science

Srija Patcha ’23

Major

Computer Science

Project Title

Effect of COVID-19 Lockdowns on Air Quality in Delhi, India

Presentation Link

View Srija's Presentation

I analyzed spatiotemporal air quality data for Delhi, India, to identify trends in air pollution during India’s COVID-19 lockdowns. Delhi is one of the most polluted megacities in the world, exhibiting ambient concentrations of criteria pollutants that frequently exceed the National Ambient Air Quality Standards. However, during the government-mandated COVID-19 lockdowns in 2020 and 2021, multiple news outlets noted clearer skies and cleaner air throughout the city. I aimed to investigate this further by quantifying possible changes in Delhi’s air quality during the two lockdown periods. I downloaded time-series data from 39 continuous monitoring stations throughout Delhi from 2015 to 2021 (using 2015-19 data as a baseline) for five criteria pollutants: two forms of particulate matter (PM₁₀ and PM_2.5), nitrogen dioxide (NO₂), sulfur dioxide (SO₂), and ozone (O₃). As the project progressed, I gained familiarity with Pandas, a data-specific library in the software Python, and learned to implement methods of spatiotemporal visualization. I also learned a lot about the network of air quality monitoring and management in India. This internship provided me invaluable exposure to the intersection of technology and environmental research, which I plan to continue pursuing in college and beyond.