Helena Joyce
Light pollution is the human-made alteration of outdoor light levels from those occurring naturally. It is a side effect of industrial civilization, with sources including building exterior and interior lighting, advertising, commercial properties, offices, factories, streetlights, and illuminated sporting venues. The excessive brightness of the night sky due to light pollution, known as sky glow, reduces the visibility of stars, galaxies, and other celestial objects, making it difficult for astronomers to observe them. This issue has led to the development of light pollution reduction (LPR) filters and the establishment of national SQM networks to monitor and combat light pollution. The adverse effects of light pollution on astronomy, the environment, and human health have sparked a global movement to reduce it and restore the natural nighttime environment.
| Characteristics | Values |
|---|---|
| Definition | The human-made alteration of outdoor light levels from those occurring naturally |
| Sources | Building exterior and interior lighting, advertising, commercial properties, offices, factories, streetlights, illuminated sporting venues, boats, fireworks, artificial satellites |
| Effects | Reduces the contrast between stars and galaxies and the sky itself, competes with starlight, interferes with astronomical observatories, disrupts ecosystems, adversely affects human health, impacts wildlife behaviour, reduces ability to observe stars and other celestial objects |
| Impact on astronomy | Makes it harder to see faint objects, reduces astronomical observability, drowns out light from faint objects like galaxies and nebulae, increases brightness of the sky background while viewing faint stars |
| Measurement | Bortle scale – a nine-level numeric scale that measures the night sky's brightness in a particular location, quantifies astronomical observability under light pollution conditions, and compares the darkness of observing sites |
| Solutions | Use of timers and sensors, use of specific light colours, use of light pollution filters, smarter streetlights that concentrate light downward, local legislation and lighting ordinances |
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What You'll Learn
Sky glow
The impact of sky glow on astronomy is significant. The scattered artificial light in the atmosphere diminishes the visibility of natural light sources, such as stars and galaxies. This has led to the construction of telescopes in more remote locations to mitigate the effects of light pollution. Even in relatively clear night skies, stray light from sky glow can interfere with astrophotography, requiring software corrections that may sacrifice object detail in the images.
The adverse effects of sky glow extend beyond astronomy. It disrupts ecosystems and has been shown to impact the production rates of agriculture, particularly in farming areas close to large cities. Sky glow also affects human health and physiology. Artificial light can interfere with the circadian rhythm, leading to potential health consequences due to the lack of consistent and restorative sleep.
Efforts to combat sky glow and light pollution are gaining momentum. Organisations like the International Dark Sky Association (IDA) aim to preserve the natural night sky by educating the public and certifying places that have successfully reduced light emissions. Additionally, certain regions, such as Tucson, Arizona, have implemented lighting regulations that have helped curb the growth of light pollution. These initiatives are crucial in mitigating the cumulative phenomenon of sky glow and restoring the natural darkness of the night sky.
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Light pollution reduction (LPR) filters
Light pollution is the excessive or inappropriate use of outdoor artificial light. It is a global issue that affects human health, wildlife behaviour, and our ability to observe stars and other celestial bodies. The night sky viewed from a city bears no resemblance to what can be seen from dark skies. Skyglow, the scattering of light in the atmosphere at night, reduces the contrast between stars and galaxies and the sky itself, making it much harder to see faint objects.
LPR filters are not a cure for light pollution and they do have some limitations. They reduce the brightness of the object under study, which restricts the use of higher magnifications. They only work on certain object types, primarily emission nebulae, and are less effective on galaxies and stars. Additionally, LPR filters alter the colour of the object, often resulting in a pronounced green cast.
Despite these limitations, LPR filters can significantly improve the viewing experience, especially in light-polluted areas. They are a valuable tool for astronomers and astronomy enthusiasts who wish to mitigate the effects of light pollution and enhance their observations of celestial bodies.
It is worth noting that the widespread adoption of LED lights has posed new challenges for LPR filters, as they emit wavelengths that the filters were not initially designed to block. However, ongoing research and advancements in filter technology aim to address these challenges and improve the effectiveness of LPR filters in reducing light pollution.
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The Bortle scale
Light pollution is a side effect of industrial civilization, caused by the human-made alteration of outdoor light levels from those occurring naturally. Sources of light pollution include building exterior and interior lighting, advertising, commercial properties, offices, factories, streetlights, and illuminated sporting venues.
There are nine classes on the Bortle scale, with Class 9 being the most extreme amount of light pollution. A Class 1 Bortle sky, which has the least amount of light pollution, allows observers to see the Triangulum Galaxy (M33) with the naked eye. A Class 4 or 5 sky, considered fairly good by many people's standards, would show the Milky Way but without much structure. A Class 8 sky, the second brightest possible, would show the zodiacal light, gegenschein, and zodiacal band, with the limiting magnitude being 7.6 to 8.0.
It is important to note that terrain, distance from a major city, and the direction a person is looking toward can influence the Bortle rating. Additionally, the Bortle scale is just one of several methods for measuring light pollution, with other methods including SQM and NELM.
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The impact on human health
Light pollution is the human-made alteration of outdoor light levels from those occurring naturally. It is a side effect of industrial civilization, with sources including building exterior and interior lighting, advertising, commercial properties, offices, factories, streetlights, and illuminated sporting venues.
Light pollution has been shown to have a significant impact on human health. Research indicates that exposure to artificial light at night can negatively affect human health, increasing the risk of various issues, including obesity, depression, sleep disorders, diabetes, and in some cases, breast cancer.
One of the primary ways light pollution impacts human health is by disrupting the natural circadian rhythm, or the body's internal clock. This disruption can lead to reduced sleep times, dissatisfaction with sleep quality, excessive sleepiness, and impaired daytime functioning. For example, according to the American Medical Association, white LED lamps have five times the impact on circadian sleep rhythms compared to conventional street lamps.
Light pollution can also have indirect effects on human health. For instance, it can disturb people indoors, leading them to turn on additional lights and expose themselves to more artificial light than necessary. This increased exposure to artificial light can, in turn, impact the production of hormones and melatonin, which are crucial for regulating various bodily functions and potentially increasing the risk of certain diseases.
Furthermore, light pollution can cause temporary blindness when individuals shift from very bright to very dark environments, reducing safety, especially for drivers.
While the primary focus of reducing light pollution may be to mitigate its impact on astronomy and the environment, it is essential to recognize that it is also a public health issue. Addressing light pollution through proper lighting design, local legislation, and community education can help minimize its adverse effects on human health.
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The impact on wildlife
Light pollution is the human-made alteration of outdoor light levels from those occurring naturally. It is a side effect of industrial civilization, with sources including building exterior and interior lighting, advertising, commercial properties, offices, factories, streetlights, and illuminated sporting venues. Light pollution competes with starlight in the night sky, interferes with astronomical observatories, and disrupts ecosystems.
Light pollution has a significant impact on wildlife, radically altering their nighttime environment by turning night into day. This disruption of the natural light-dark cycle has profound effects on the behavior and ecology of both diurnal and nocturnal species.
Nocturnal predators, such as cougars, use light to hunt, while prey species rely on darkness as cover. Artificial lighting reduces the effectiveness of this natural camouflage, making prey more vulnerable to predation. For example, juvenile salmon are drawn to patches of water lit by artificial lights, where they become easy targets for predators like herons.
Light pollution also affects the behavior of insects and amphibians. Insects like moths are attracted to artificial lights, which they may confuse for moonlight, resulting in them becoming concentrated as a food source or trapped and exhausted. Frogs and toads, which are primarily nocturnal, are impacted by the glare from artificial lights in their wetland habitats. This light pollution disrupts their nighttime croaking, which is part of their breeding ritual, thereby reducing their reproductive success.
Additionally, light pollution alters the nesting and hiding behavior of migratory birds, impacting their ability to avoid predators and find suitable habitats. Some bird species, such as warblers and thrushes, are also disoriented by bright lights, leading to collisions with buildings.
Overall, light pollution poses a significant threat to wildlife, disrupting natural behaviors, altering ecosystems, and impacting the survival and reproduction of various species.
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Frequently asked questions
Light pollution is the human-made alteration of outdoor light levels from those occurring naturally. It is caused by artificial light reflecting in the sky and bouncing off different types of particles in the atmosphere.
Sources of light pollution include building exterior and interior lighting, advertising, commercial properties, offices, factories, streetlights, illuminated sporting venues, boats, and fireworks.
Light pollution reduces the visibility of stars, galaxies, and other celestial objects. It also interferes with astronomical observatories and telescopes, making it harder for astronomers to study the night sky.
Light pollution disrupts ecosystems and has adverse effects on human health. It can interfere with the natural body rhythms of both humans and animals, impacting their behaviour and migration patterns.
Light pollution can be reduced by using timers and sensors, avoiding over-lighting, and choosing the right colour of light. Communities can also advocate for smarter lighting solutions, such as streetlights that concentrate their light downward, to reduce light pollution.
