"Periodically I see writings by other people that resonate with me on the stunning improvements in daily air quality and quality of life during the Pandemic shutdown."

This. I didn't see such writings, but I concur with the observation how fast the daily air quality improved and weather became less violent and erratic when the usual traffic and rat race stopped cold (and returned to the same disturbing patterns once our activities resumed). It was as if weather reflected our collective unrest. To this day I'm not sure if it can be shrugged off as a mere coincidence.