Work

Re-analysis of the anthropogenic effect of the COVID-19 global lockdown on night-time lunar surface temperatures

Year: 2025

Type: article

Abstract: ABSTRACT A study by Durga Prasad and Ambily observed an anomalous decrease in the lunar surface temperatures during the period April–May 2020, which they then attributed to the anthropogenic effects of the COVID-19 global lockdown effect. We have re-examined their data and while the anomalous decrease in the lunar surface temperature during April–May 2020 appears in our analysis as well, so does another significant dip in early 2018. Furthermore, the decline to the minimum observed during April–May 2020 is seen to begin in 2019, that is, quite some time before the COVID-19 event that led to the global lockdown and the suggested anthropogenic effect of reduced pollution. We, therefore, conclude that one cannot attribute the effects of the observed changes in the lunar surface temperature during April–May 2020 directly and unambiguously to reduced human activity during the COVD-19 lockdown as claimed by Durga Prasad and Ambily.

Source: Monthly Notices of the Royal Astronomical Society Letters

DOI: 10.1093/mnrasl/slaf002

Authors: W Schonberg, S Haque

Institutions: Missouri University of Science and Technology, University of the West Indies

Language: English

Topic: COVID-19 impact on air quality

Subfield: Global and Planetary Change

Field: Environmental Science

Domain: Physical Sciences

SDG: Climate action

Open Access status: hybrid

Estimated APC paid: $1,451