There is widespread reporting of improvements in ambient air quality as a result of the COVID-19 pandemic, but much of the evidence has focused on direct comparisons between air quality measurements made before and after social and travel restrictions were in place.

Such comparisons can often be misleading as the social and travel restrictions are not the only factors affecting measured concentrations of air pollutants.

Ambient concentrations can change significantly over short periods of time simply because of changes to the weather. Statistical models can be used to identify the influence of key meteorological and temporal variables on ambient measurements which allow the effects of meteorology and temporal factors to be nominally removed. It is then possible to identify changes in concentrations which would, in theory, have been recorded if meteorological conditions had remained constant.

This webinar will explore examples of analyses into the effects of COVID-19 restrictions on air quality. It will explain that a failure to take account of variability in underlying factors can easily confound and mislead such analyses. Identification of these confounding influences can thus help to reveal the direct effects of the COVID-19 restrictions.

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Our speakers

Chris Whall is the Managing Director of Air Quality Consultants Ltd a specialist company with over 30 staff that provides independent expert advice and assessments covering all ambient air quality issues. Established in 1993, it has an unrivalled, proven track record in providing air quality and carbon management services to private and public sector clients, both within the UK and internationally.

Chris is a Chartered Environmentalist with over 20 years’ in environmental consulting with multi-sector EIA experience. He has a background in air quality, climate change and emissions quantification, impact assessment and management. He has experience in implementing and managing long and short-term environmental monitoring programmes; undertaking atmospheric dispersion modelling assessments relating to the impact of industrial, transport, waste management and minerals & mining sector upon the air environment; and acting as an expert witness at Public Inquiry. Chris has particular expertise and a successful track record in supporting major infrastructure projects, and specifically in the delivery of air quality and carbon assessments.

Ben Marner is Director of Environmental Modelling & Assessment at AQC and has more than 20 years’ experience in the field of air quality. He has been responsible for a large number of air quality and greenhouse gas assessments in the UK and abroad. He has specific experience in the application of detailed dispersion models and has contributed to the development of modelling best practices. He has provided public inquiry expert witness services, as well as support and advice to Defra, Highways England, the Environment Agency, Transport Scotland, Transport for London, and numerous local authorities. Ben is an ad-hoc member of Defra’s Air Quality Expert Group.