The noise climate at the time of SARS-CoV-2 VIRUS/COVID-19 disease in Athens – Greece: The case of Athens International Airport and the Athens Ring Road (Attiki Odos)

Vogiatzis, Konstantinos; Zafiropoulou, Vassiliki; Gerolymatou, Georgia; Dimitriou, Dimitrios; Halkias, Bill; Papadimitriou, Aristofanis; Konstantinidis, Aristeidis

doi:10.1515/noise-2020-0014

Cited by 18 publications

(10 citation statements)

References 5 publications

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“…Athens, Greece showed similar differences across its network of 14 sensors, such that mean reductions varied between 3-6 dBA-L den , with a mean of 6 dBA-L den near airport-adjacent highways, and up to 10 dBA-L den near the airport. The Greek study was also able to demonstrate statistically different levels between their two control year conditions of 2018 and 2019, and that air traffic had a stronger lowering effect than road traffic [17].…”

Section: Reduction In Airport Noisementioning

confidence: 88%

Quieted City Sounds during the COVID-19 Pandemic in Montreal

Steele

Guastavino

2021

IJERPH

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This paper investigates the transformation of urban sound environments during the COVID-19 pandemic in Montreal, Canada. We report on comparisons of sound environments in three sites, before, during, and after the lockdown. The project is conducted in collaboration with the Montreal festival district (Quartier des Spectacles) as part of the Sounds in the City partnership. The analyses rely on continuous acoustic monitoring of three sites. The comparisons are presented in terms of (1) energetic acoustic indicators over different periods of time (Lden, Ld, Le, Ln), (2) statistical acoustic indicators (L10, L90), and (3) hourly, daily, and weekly profiles of sound levels throughout the day. Preliminary analyses reveal sound level reductions on the order of 6–7 dB(A) during lockdown, with differences more or less marked across sites and times of the day. After lockdown, sound levels gradually increased following an incremental relaxation of confinement. Within four weeks, sound levels measurements nearly reached the pre-COVID-19 levels despite a reduced number of pedestrian activities. Long-term measurements suggest a ‘new normal’ that is not quite as loud without festival activities, but that is also not characterizable as quiet. The study supports reframing debates about noise control and noise management of festival areas to also consider the sounds of such areas when festival sounds are not present.

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Section: Reduction In Airport Noisementioning

confidence: 88%

Quieted City Sounds during the COVID-19 Pandemic in Montreal

Steele

Guastavino

2021

IJERPH

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“…There are also 0.3 million trucks and buses (mostly diesel-powered) and 0.7 million 2-wheelers [83]. Based on data for traffic volumes from the Greek Ministry of Infrastructure and Transport and Attiki Odos (the intra-city major tollway), the mean weekly vehicular traffic was reduced by about 40-70% during the lockdown period with respect to the same period in the previous two years [40,84].…”

Section: Changes In Aerosol Scattering and Absorption Properties In Mmentioning

confidence: 99%

Assessment of the COVID-19 Lockdown Effects on Spectral Aerosol Scattering and Absorption Properties in Athens, Greece

et al. 2021

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COVID-19 is evolving into one of the worst pandemics in recent history, claiming a death toll of over 1.5 million as of December 2020. In an attempt to limit the expansion of the pandemic in its initial phase, nearly all countries imposed restriction measures, which resulted in an unprecedented reduction of air pollution. This study aims to assess the impact of the lockdown effects due to COVID-19 on in situ measured aerosol properties, namely spectral-scattering (bsca) and absorption (babs) coefficients, black carbon (BC) concentrations, single-scattering albedo (SSA), scattering and absorption Ångström exponents (SAE, AAE) in Athens, Greece. Moreover, a comparison is performed with the regional background site of Finokalia, Crete, for a better assessment of the urban impact on observed differences. The study examines pre-lockdown (1–22 March 2020), lockdown (23 March–3 May 2020) and post-lockdown (4–31 May 2020) periods, while the aerosol properties are also compared with a 3–4 year preceding period (2016/2017–2019). Comparison of meteorological parameters in Athens, between the lockdown period and respective days in previous years, showed only marginal variation, which is not deemed sufficient in order to justify the notable changes in aerosol concentrations and optical properties. The largest reduction during the lockdown period was observed for babs compared to the pre-lockdown (−39%) and to the same period in previous years (−36%). This was intensified during the morning traffic hours (−60%), reflecting the large decrease in vehicular emissions. Furthermore, AAE increased during the lockdown period due to reduced emissions from fossil-fuel combustion, while a smaller (−21%) decrease was observed for bsca along with slight increases (6%) in SAE and SSA values, indicating that scattering aerosol properties were less affected by the decrease in vehicular emissions, as they are more dependent on regional sources and atmospheric processing. Nighttime BC emissions related to residential wood-burning were slightly increased during the lockdown period, with respect to previous-year means. On the contrary, aerosol and pollution changes during the lockdown period at Finokalia were low and highly sensitive to natural sources and processes.

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“…In Barcelona (Spain), the noise pollution levels dropped by 9 dB(A) (L day ) after one week of lockdown, and an additional 2 dB reduction after two weeks was observed (Ajuntament de Barcelona, 2020 ). In Athens (Greece), noise levels (L den ) reductions of up to 6 dB(A) and 8 dB(A) were measured on road networks and in proximity of the Athens International Airport, accordingly, as a consequence of the lockdown restrictions ( Vogiatzis et al, 2020 ). In London (UK), an average reduction of 5.4 dB (L Aeq ) was observed across 11 sampled locations by comparing a dataset of noise measurements from Spring 2019 and one from Spring 2020, during the UK lockdown ( Aletta et al, 2020 ).…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Increases in noise complaints during the COVID-19 lockdown in Spring 2020: A case study in Greater London, UK

Tong

Aletta

Mitchell

et al. 2021

Science of The Total Environment

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Many cities around the world have claimed that the enforcement of lockdown measures to contain the spread of COVID-19 and the corresponding limitations of human activities led to reduced environmental noise levels. However, noise complaints reported by many local authorities were on the rise soon after the local lockdowns came into force. This research took Greater London in the UK as a case study. The overall aim was examining how noise complaints changed during the first stages of the lockdown implementation, during Spring 2020, both locally and at city scale, and how urban factors may have been influencing them. Noise complaint and urban factor datasets from the Government's publicly available data warehouse were used. The results show that during the COVID-19 lockdown the number of noise complaints increased by 48%, compared with the same period during Spring 2019. In terms of noise sources, complaints about construction (36%) and neighbourhood (50%) noise showed significant increases. Urban factors, including housing and demographic factors, played a more significant role than the actual noise exposure to road and rail traffic noise, as derived from the London noise maps. In detail, the change rate of noise complaints was higher in areas with higher unemployment rates, more residents with no qualifications, and lower house price. It is expected that this study could help government with allocating resources more effectively and achieve a better urban environment.

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The noise climate at the time of SARS-CoV-2 VIRUS/COVID-19 disease in Athens – Greece: The case of Athens International Airport and the Athens Ring Road (Attiki Odos)

Cited by 18 publications

References 5 publications

Quieted City Sounds during the COVID-19 Pandemic in Montreal

Quieted City Sounds during the COVID-19 Pandemic in Montreal

Assessment of the COVID-19 Lockdown Effects on Spectral Aerosol Scattering and Absorption Properties in Athens, Greece

Increases in noise complaints during the COVID-19 lockdown in Spring 2020: A case study in Greater London, UK

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