A new multivariate functional ANOVA approach for assessing air quality data amid COVID-19 pandemic.

Coronavirus pandemic instituted in March 11 2020 led to the implementation of lockdown measures in a large number of countries. Recent studies have already documented the important reduction of air pollution level across geographies. In this work, to evaluate the impact of lockdown on air quality we adopt two functional data approaches. In particular, we focus on the urban area of Chieti- Pescara (Abruzzo region, Italy). The results obtained reveals alterations during the period considered, for all the pollutant taken in account. Moreover, PM10 and benzene affected the difference in mean functions of the pollutants depending on the location of the monitoring stations.