Now, let’s take a look at three real life examples on how this method can be used to assess ecological light pollution in different locations and weather conditions. (a) Terrestrial field site, Marburg, Germany, with cloud cover In this experiment to understand the flight to light behavior of moths, the camera was situated at the center of six sodium vapour light sources (labelled 1 to 6 in figure below)…
While it is important to look at the impacts of light pollution, attention should also be paid to how light pollution is being measured as this affects the quality of data collected and hence influences the effectiveness of solutions to reduce the impact of light pollution. In this two part series we will first look at existing measures and assess its effectiveness, concluding with a new method of assessing ecological…
The town of Kingsville in Canada offers us insights beyond solutions to light problems. Faced with a unique local source of light pollution, we get a glimpse of how everyday residents play a part in pushing for bigger change in the management of light pollution. But first, let me introduce the problem. Over the past few years, Kingsville has become a popular nesting ground for agricultural greenhouses that operate round…
In this article by CNBC, it introduces the idea of connecting technological solutions to conservation efforts in the management of light pollution. This can otherwise be seen as a manifestation of educational efforts in which exposure to new knowledge can lead to physical action. An example is how lighting solutions have been linked to sea turtle conservation efforts through the use of technology in Queensland, Australia. The installation of amber…
Globally, the firefly population has been under threat because of familiar subjects such as urbanisation and habitat loss as well as increasing use of pesticides, however, more recent studies have attributed the decrease in firefly population with artificial light at night (ALAN) (Dunham, 2020). One of the main impacts that ALAN has on these fireflies are its effects on the mating process. As seen from the comic above, fireflies are…
Besides retrofitting the lamps, companies focusing on the design of light have come up with novel ways to solve the light pollution problem through technological advancements in lighting technology. Lumican is one such company from Canada that has turned to creating dark-sky friendly lighting solutions. Their quest to design dark-sky friendly exterior lighting began back in 2015 and today they are selling these night-friendly lights which have been certified by…
The West Nile Virus (WNV), a mosquito borne virus, first occurred on the US East Coast in 1999. Since then, the disease has transmitted across the entire country in just a few years, infecting not just humans, but animals such as birds and horses as shown in the figure below. The WNV spreads to people via the bite of an infected mosquito and can cause fevers, body aches, rashes, diarrhea,…
LEDs are widely known for their great potential to reduce light pollution and energy consumption because of their relatively low costs and energy efficiency (Parnell, 2017). As such, LED technology has been a significant contributor in the “sustainable lighting” movement. However, the current extent of global light pollution illustrates a case of poor usage of these promising lights. Instead of reducing overall energy consumption, the benefits of LEDs have led…
A common concern surrounding the shift towards the management of light pollution is the effects of reduced light on street safety. Many cities around the world have channelled huge investments into lighting up pedestrian paths, back alleys and residential areas with lights, all to keep their citizens safe and the city running at night. In fact, because the argument behind such a trend involves a basic logical reasoning that illuminating…
Ever notice the reddish orange clouds at night that look something like this? While most of us would associate the colour of the clouds with the setting of the sun, it’s time to think again. Research have shown that the redness in these clouds shows the interaction of clouds with sky glow from cities. With increased cloud cover, long-wave red light radiation from cities that are usually emitted into space…
