Oregon is living up to its reputation for being a leader in nature conservation - now extended to the night sky. We are thrilled to share some very exciting news – the first phase of the Oregon Outback International Dark Sky Sanctuary in southeastern Oregon has been certified by DarkSky International! At 2.5 million acres, the Oregon Outback International Dark Sky Sanctuary is the largest Dark Sky Sanctuary in the world. The newly-certified, star-studded Sanctuary in Lake County is within the largest intact area of world class dark skies in the lower 48 states and represents an area about one-half the size of New Jersey! The designation was given by DarkSky International, an organization dedicated to protecting the nighttime environment and preserving dark skies through environmentally responsible outdoor lighting. The project is the work of the Oregon Dark Sky Network, an ad-hoc group of state, local and federal officials, private individuals, business owners and tourism agencies. Travel Southern Oregon, which is a member of the network, celebrated the designation in a news release Monday. “This four-year collaboration brings together so many of the elements we try to achieve in regenerative tourism,” Bob Hackett, executive director of Travel Southern Oregon, said. “It not only elevates the destination experience for visitors to Lake County and opens up opportunities for local businesses, but it also helps agencies and residents steward their lands in ways that celebrate a legacy of starry night skies for generations to come.” Oregon already has two destinations with official DarkSky International designations: Prineville Reservoir State Park, which in 2021 became a Dark Sky Park, and Sunriver Nature Center & Observatory, which was named a Dark Sky Place in 2020. The Oregon Outback Dark Sky Network that submitted the nomination represents a diverse team of state and local land managers, businesses, nonprofits and private individuals that worked tirelessly for the past four years to reach this outstanding milestone. But they’re not done yet–the Network aspires to expand the certified area eastward into Harney and Malheur Counties to encompass a full 11.4 million acres! The scale of this designation and the breadth of the partnership effort that went into it reflects the truly remarkable nighttime resource that we have here in Oregon, as well as the value of dark skies—for human and wildlife health, for the preservation of carefully choreographed ecosystem relationships, for our deep cultural history of looking skyward, and for the economic benefits to gateway cities in support of dark sky tourism. DarkSky Oregon supports the OODS Network’s efforts by analyzing and providing night sky brightness measurement data and maps, which confirm the pristine nature of the Sanctuary’s night skies. Learn more about this remarkable International Dark Sky Sanctuary and the efforts to protect Oregon’s night skies. DarkSky Oregon
PO Box 777 Bend, OR 97709-0777 International Dark Sky Discovery Center announces 2024 groundbreaking in East Valley The International Dark Sky Discovery Center will have a Dark Sky Observatory, Hyperspace Planetarium, Inspiration Theater, a Night Sky Experience Exhibit Hall and an Einstein Exploration Station in Fountain Hills. The observatory will have the largest telescope in the Greater Phoenix area. The international centerpiece for inspiring future scientists and people of all ages to understand how important dark skies are for the well-being of humans, plants, and animals, and for opening a window to the observable universe. Development of a nonprofit STEM-based International Dark Sky Discovery Center will soon be underway in Fountain Hills during spring 2024.
"We are over-the-top happy to share that our board unanimously voted to begin construction of the International Dark Sky Discovery Center," said Joe Bill, president of the International Dark Sky Discovery Center. "Groundbreaking is planned for March 2024." The International Dark Sky Discovery Center will have a Dark Sky Observatory, Hyperspace Planetarium, Inspiration Theater, a Night Sky Experience Exhibit Hall and an Einstein Exploration Station. The observatory will have the largest telescope in the Greater Phoenix area, which Bill said has led to discussions with Arizona State University about collaborative opportunities. "As a leader in STEM education and space exploration, ASU is excited by the creation of the International Dark Sky Discovery Center," said ASU President Michael M. Crow. "The Discovery Center reinforces Arizona's commitment to expanding our understanding of the universe, and we look forward to working with them to advance new research and learning opportunities." Part of the mission of the Discovery Center is to help preserve dark skies, an important objective for the astronomy state of Arizona. "Dark skies are an increasingly important part of Arizona's tourism offerings," said Lisa Urias, executive director of the Arizona Office of Tourism, "and the Discovery Center admirably represents our state's dedication to astronomical research and education." Getting designated as an International Dark Sky Community is rare for a community so close to a major metropolitan area. "Fountain Hills is the perfect location for the Discovery Center," State Sen. John Kavanagh of Fountain Hills said. "With its dark skies and proximity to millions of people, the Discovery Center will benefit the entire state." The Discovery Center will be a 23,000-square-foot, nonprofit STEM science facility. Its STEM science mission of dark sky preservation relates to astronomy research, protection of nocturnal animals and human health. The facility was designed by Swaback Architecture and construction will be done by McCarthy Builders. As a beacon of cosmic and technology education, the Discovery Center seeks the support of philanthropic partners to put the finishing touches on this first-of-its-kind facility. More information, including a narrated 3D flyover of the Discovery Center, is available at darkskycenter.org. Top 20 Stargazing Destination In June, Fountain Hills celebrated being a Top 20 Stargazing Destination in the country. The town was already recognized as the world's 17th International Dark Sky Community. HomeToGo, at hometogo.com, an online vacation rental marketplace, released its 2023 Summer Stargazing Index, which ranked the top 17 stargazing destinations in the U.S. Fountain Hills was number 16 on the list. "Fountain Hills continues to be recognized as one of the very best places on this planet to gaze up at the others," said Fountain Hills Mayor Ginny Dickey. To come up with the ranking, HomeToGo analyzed various factors, including average cloud cover and population density, to indicate how secluded an area is and the accessibility of affordable accommodations. Additionally, it even considered and evaluated many different International Dark Sky Places, which are considered top spots for stargazing thanks to their low light pollution. The complete ranking of the top U.S. destinations for stargazing: 1. Westcliffe and Silver Cliff, Colo. 2. Dripping Springs, Ariz. 3. Harmony, Fla. 4. Flagstaff, Ariz. 5. Sedona, Ariz. 6 (Tied) Beverly Shores, Ind. 6 (Tied) Kaibab Paiute Indian Reservation, Ariz. 8. Fort Davis, Texas 9. Dripping Springs-Wimberley, Texas 10. Torrey, Utah 11. Horseshoe Bay, Texas 12. Lost Creek, Texas 13. Borrego Springs, Calif. 14. Village of Oak Creek, Ariz. 15. Homer Glen, Ill. 16. Fountain Hills, Ariz. 17. Ketchum, Idaho "It’s great, and well-deserved, to have Fountain Hills be recognized as one of the top star gazing locations on the planet,” added Bill. “As a dark sky oasis in the Valley of the Sun and the town’s prestigious designation as the 17th International Dark Sky Community in the world, Fountain HIlls is the perfect location for the planned, nonprofit 23,000-square-foot International Dark Sky Discovery Center." by Kelly Mixer of the Queen Creek Sun-Times To learn more about Fountain Hills International Dark Sky Community, visit fhdarksky.com, and learn more about the International Dark Sky Discovery Center at darkskycenter.org. by Christine Coester, German Centre for Integrative Biodiversity Research (iDiv) Halle-Jena-Leipzig A new collection of papers on artificial light at night show the impact of light pollution to be surprisingly far-reaching, with even low levels of artificial light disrupting species communities and entire ecosystems. Published in Philosophical Transactions of the Royal Society B , the special theme issue, which includes 16 scientific papers, looks at the effects of light pollution in complex ecological systems, including soil, grassland, and insect communities. Led by researchers at the German Center for Integrative Biodiversity Research (iDiv) and the Friedrich Schiller University Jena, the collection notes the increasing ubiquity of light pollution, while emphasizing the domino effect light pollution has on ecosystem function and stability. Night skies are becoming brighter as the use of artificial lighting spreads across the globe. With an estimated annual uptick of up to 10%, the prevalence of light pollution is disrupting the natural light cycles that have been largely consistent throughout the Earth's history. These light cycles are vitally important to organisms who rely on light as a source of energy and information. To date, studies looking at the impact of light pollution have largely focused on human health and individual species' responses, whereas investigating entire ecosystems, where species are linked through diverse interactions, has remained scarce. "Species do not exist in isolation but rather interact in numerous ways," explains iDiv and the University of Jena's Dr. Myriam Hirt, who led the compilation and editing of the theme issue together with Dr. Remo Ryser. "Our aim was to better understand how the brightening of the night sky affects entire ecosystems and the benefits they provide." Using the iDiv Ecotron, which consists of multiple controlled experimental-ecosystem chambers (so-called EcoUnits), several researchers simulated and altered light conditions at night. Key findings include the ability of artificial light to:
"Their individual responses to artificial lighting and their relationships with one another determine the outcome for the entire ecological system. For instance, an activity shift of diurnal and crepuscular species into the night increases extinction risks in the entire community," says Dr. Remo Ryser of iDiv and the University of Jena. Another study in the issue investigated how artificial light produces indirect cascading effects with implications for humans. For example, changes in the abundance and behavior of mosquitoes—a vector species—in response to artificial light at night. The study shows that exposure leads to changes in the timing of key behaviors, such as host-seeking, mating, and flight activity, which might carry wide-scale consequences on the transmission of vector-borne diseases, like malaria. Another paper looked at how different lighting strategies may mitigate the negative effects of artificial light. However, the special issue points out that flipping the switch on light pollution requires a nuanced approach given that the impact of light pollution varies significantly among species. This suggests that mitigation strategies may not be universally applicable. As darkness disappears due to the consistent rise in artificial lighting around the world, the collection of studies highlights the cost of this expansion to people's health and ecosystems. By acknowledging the impact of this human-caused disturbance on species interactions and feedback loops, the special issue hopes to inspire future research and action that not only helps mitigate the harmful effects of light pollution, but fosters a sustainable coexistence between society's needs and the natural environment. "The benefits of artificial light during the night are undeniable, but its adverse effects should not be ignored," says Dr. Myriam Hirt. More information: Introduction to special issue: Myriam R. Hirt et al, Light pollution in complex ecological systems, Philosophical Transactions of the Royal Society B: Biological Sciences (2023). DOI: 10.1098/rstb.2022.0351 Journal information: Philosophical Transactions of the Royal Society B Originally published October 30, 2023 in Physics.org
John Barentine PhD, Dark Sky Consulting LLC, & DarkSky International
To successfully communicate with the public and decision-makers, dark-sky advocates must have access to the results of the latest research on artificial light at night (ALAN) and light pollution. These results are contained in technical publications that are often difficult for non-specialists to understand. It is particularly true of light pollution research, which borrows from many academic subjects. A newly released summary of papers published through 2022 brings advocates up to date with the latest research results. Given the distinct value in making this research more accessible, in 2022 DarkSky International published “Artificial Light At Night: State Of The Science.” The report distilled the contents of over 300 scholarly papers into a short, easy-to-read summary. It grouped results into seven broad categories: the night sky; ecological impacts; human health; public safety; energy use and climate change; light and social justice; and space light pollution. It concludes by listing several open questions that may guide research in coming years, explaining briefly the methodology by which the report was written, and providing bibliographic information for all sources of information. Overall, the report finds evidence of significant harm to the night sky and wildlife ecology from light pollution on local to global scales. There are major concerns about how ALAN diminishes traffic safety during the overnight hours. While a strong link between ALAN exposure and human health seems to be established over decades of laboratory studies, the influence of light from outdoor sources remains unclear. And to the extent that roughly 80 percent of world electricity production relies on burning fossil fuels, wasted light at night from outdoor sources remains linked to climate change – even given the ongoing adoption of highly energy-efficient solid-state lighting. We hope this will be useful to advocates and the public to help understand what research results tell us about light pollution and help others recognize the significance of the problem. We intend to provide annual updates to the report to keep up with the rapid developments in this field. SUMMARY The Night Sky Light emitted into the night sky makes it difficult to see the stars. On the ground, ALAN makes the nighttime environment brighter. Weather changes like clouds and snow on the ground can make this impact worse. New and inexpensive light sources like white light-emitting diodes (LEDs) have a growing impact on both the night sky and outdoor spaces at night. Ecological Impacts ALAN exposure impacts almost every species studied by scientists. It interferes with their biology and changes how they interact with the environment. This harms ecosystems and can make plants and animals less resilient in the face of environmental change. Human Health Scientific evidence establishes a link between ALAN exposure and adverse human health consequences. These include disruptions in chemical signaling in the body, certain kinds of changes at the genetic level, and shifts in sleep/wake cycles set by natural light sources. These effects may contribute to the incidence of certain chronic diseases in some people. These conclusions are largely drawn from controlled studies of exposures to indoor lighting, suggesting caution in interpreting the influence of outdoor lighting on health. Public Safety The belief that outdoor lighting improves traffic safety and discourages or prevents crime is common. It may explain in part the rapid growth in the use of outdoor light at night in recent years and decades. There are cases where the careful application of outdoor lighting may improve nighttime safety, but there is no general benefit supported by scientific evidence. Energy Use and Climate Change Wasted outdoor light at night is wasted energy. The world remains highly dependent on fossil fuels to generate electricity. Since light pollution represents a waste of energy, it also contributes directly to climate change. Light and Social Justice We know very little about how ALAN affects people in social contexts. Light at night may be used in ways that affect neighborhoods according to the race of the people who live in them. That may make light at night use a matter of social and environmental justice. Space Light Pollution The number of artificial satellites surrounding the Earth is increasing rapidly. Satellites reflect sunlight to the ground and change the appearance of the night sky. Because they raise night sky brightness, they are a new kind of light pollution threat. The full report can be found here. Wind turbine farms in Washington State will be required to turn their blinking red lights off at night when no low-flying aircraft are near after Gov. Jay Inslee signed the requirement into law on Tuesday May 9, 2023. The bill sponsored by Rep. April Connors, R-Kennewick, will take effect July 1, 2023 for new wind farms. Existing wind farms in Washington with at least five or more turbines must apply to the Federal Aviation Administration by Jan. 1, 2028, for approval of a lighting system that detects approaching aircraft and have it installed within two years of approval. Connors was concerned that Inslee would veto it. “House Bill 1173 will help preserve the beauty of our night skies in Eastern Washington,” Connors said. The blinking red lights on wind turbines are needed to alert low-flying aircraft, but they cause light pollution and can be an eyesore for people living nearby, said supporters of the bill. The Federal Aviation Administration has approved Aircraft Detection Lighting Systems that rely on radar detection to turn the lights on when aircraft are nearby and then turn them off after they have passed. Several states already require the systems. The Legislature approved the final version of the bill as Scout Clean Energy is seeking approval for up to 244 turbines along the Horse Heaven Hills just south of the Tri-Cities. Its blinking red lights would be seen along the ridge line of the hills from 20 to 30 miles away, according to those who oppose the Horse Heaven Clean Energy Center. The bill eventually had support from Energy Northwest, PacifiCorp and Puget Sound Energy, she said. But other clean power organizations and companies were lobbying against the bill, which would increase their wind farm costs, she said. Inslee told her during a visit to the Tri-Cities last week, at which he signed other bills, that he would call her if there were any problems with the bill, Connors said. So she was surprised when the governor vetoed two sections of the bill Tuesday without discussing it with her, she said. Governor Inslee vetoes sections: One was an emergency clause that would have the bill take effect immediately. Connors said the governor had canceled emergency clauses in other bills this session. The other section the governor vetoed would have provided counties in the state some local control. It would have given county commissioners authority to establish the amount of light pollution that would be allowed, whether it was with new technology approved in the future by the FAA or deciding that a wind farm in a remote area did not need to reduce its light pollution. Inslee said as he signed the bill that he was looking forward to discussing options that might be needed to support wind farm developers with retrofitting lights. “I wasn’t super excited to have those section vetoes, but I am extremely happy we got this passed,” Connors said. Annette Cary, Tri-City Herald
May 10, 2023 Light pollution is doubling every eight years. For more than a century, most sources of artificial light wasted energy in the form of heat. LEDs are much more efficient, requiring less than 25% of the energy consumed by an incandescent lamp. By 2020, LEDs accounted for 51% of global lighting sales, up from just 1% in 2010, according to the International Energy Agency, an intergovernmental organization that analyzes global energy data. It sounds like a clear win for the environment. But that's not how Ruskin Hartley sees it. "The drive for efficient fixtures has come at the expense of a rapid increase in light pollution," he said. Hartley would know. He's the executive director of the International Dark-Sky Association, or IDA, and he's one of a growing number of people who say the dark sky is an undervalued and underappreciated natural resource. Its loss has detrimental consequences for wildlife and human health. And yet the public's embrace of LEDs keeps rising, spilling way too much light into the sky where no one needs it. "We've taken a lot of the energy savings and just lit additional places," Hartley said. It's a classic example of the Jevons paradox, in which efficiency gains (such as better automobile gas mileage) are countered by an increase in consumption (people driving more often). In essence, Hartley and others say, we've traded one kind of pollution for another. That's not the only problem. In addition to making more light, LEDs have altered its fundamental nature. The light produced by incandescent bulbs had warmer amber or yellow colors, "more in tune with firelight, the only light aside from starlight we knew," said Robert Meadows, a scientist with the Natural Sounds and Night Skies Division of the National Park Service. LEDs, in contrast, give off cooler bluish-white tones that exacerbate light pollution for the same reason that the sky is blue. Sunlight contains the full spectrum of colors, and air molecules happen to be the right size to scatter the shorter blue wavelengths more effectively than any other. This causes blue light to spread more readily in the atmosphere, giving the daytime sky its familiar color. After the sun goes down, the same thing happens with LED light that spills wastefully into the sky: It gets diffused to a greater extent and increases "sky glow," the combined radiance of city lights. Travis Longcore, an urban ecologist at UCLA, estimates that artificial lighting causes the night sky in Los Angeles to shine 1 1/2 times brighter than a night lit by a full moon. All creatures are affected by the brighter nightscapes, especially those who cannot close the blinds for a sound sleep. "There are many, many species who don't go out and forage during the full moon because it's too bright and they know they're going to be vulnerable to predators," he said. According to the National Audubon Society, 80% of North American migratory bird species fly at night, and they're confounded by city lights. Even species that stay put are forced to relocate their homes. A recent study led by Longcore found that Western snowy plovers, a threatened species of shorebird, look for safe roost sites in darker areas of Santa Monica Bay when mostly empty parking lots are illuminated with floodlights all night long. The survival of wild species depends on the variabilities of the natural world—day and night, seasons, the lunar cycle. Take them away, Longcore said, and you inevitably start alienating species from their natural habitats. Snakes, for example, are most active and hunt prey during new moon nights. The disappearance of the California glossy snake and the long-nosed snake from Orange County has been attributed largely to the increase in ambient light. Humans, too, are vulnerable to light pollution. Artificial light blocks the production of melatonin, a hormone that regulates sleep cycles, and disrupted sleep cycles have been linked to an array of health problems. The American Medical Association warned in 2016 that high-intensity, blue-rich LED lights were "associated with reduced sleep times, dissatisfaction with sleep quality, excessive sleepiness, impaired daytime functioning, and obesity." A new study published in Science reports that between 2011 and 2022, global sky brightness increased by an estimated 9.6% per year. The study is based upon data collected through the community science project, NOIRLab’s Globe at Night. This rapid brightening of the night sky over large portions of the Earth has serious consequences for all living things. The authors conclude that “existing lighting policies are not preventing this increase, at least on continental and global scales.” The startling increase in light pollution is a clear wake-up call for policymakers that decisive and immediate action is needed to address this urgent environmental threat. Why is this finding surprising? In the past few years, studies have estimated that light pollution was growing by approximately two percent per year. These studies use data from earth observation satellites. In other words, they measure the light escaping the atmosphere. The new study, reported in Science, relies on people recording the number of stars they see on a clear, dark night. In other words, they assess night sky brightness from the ground looking up. These observations measure skyglow, the brightening of the night sky from countless lights. The satellites primarily measure light emitted vertically, either directly or via reflection. They are also blind to light in the bluer, short wavelength. The observations of the night sky from the ground also include light emitted horizontally – such as lit building facades, digital billboards, and light escaping windows. Additionally, the human eye sees the light across a broader spectrum. These observational factors are more causative of skyglow and useful predictors of biological impact. “Since human eyes are more sensitive to these shorter wavelengths at nighttime, LED lights have a strong effect on our perception of sky brightness,” said Christopher Kyba, a researcher at the German Research Centre for Geosciences and lead author of the paper detailing these results. “This could be one of the reasons behind the discrepancy between satellite measurements and the sky conditions reported by Globe at Night participants.” Why do the results matter? Over the past 150 years, we have transformed the natural world. It is becoming increasingly clear that one of the most profound changes is the loss of darkness at night over much of the planet. As the study authors report, “the character of the night sky is now different from what it was when life and civilization developed.” It is clear from this paper that the growth of light pollution is continuing, largely unchecked. “At this rate of change, a child born in a location where 250 stars were visible would be able to see only about 100 by the time they turned 18,” said Kyba. Increasing sky brightness is a sign we are doing lighting wrong. It’s a sign we are using energy inefficiently, wasting money, exacerbating climate change, and increasing environmental impacts. Scientists estimated that carbon dioxide, the primary contributor to climate change, is growing at 2% per year globally – doubling every 30 years. By comparison, light pollution is growing at 9.6% per year – doubling in less than eight years. “The increase in skyglow over the past decade underscores the importance of redoubling our efforts and developing new strategies to protect dark skies,” said Connie Walker of the National Science Foundation's NORILab. “The Globe at Night dataset is indispensable in our ongoing evaluation of changes in skyglow, and we encourage everyone who can to get involved to help protect the starry night sky.” How was the study conducted? Thousands of volunteers collect data on how many stars they can see yearly. Using a simple phone app, they compared the number of stars they saw in a well-known constellation to estimate the level of light pollution. Using more than 50,000 data points collected between 2011 and 2022, the scientists compared the data collected to a sky brightness model. The model estimated that globally, light pollution has been growing at 9.6% per year every year. What are the implications of this study? As noted in the main study, existing lighting policies have failed to prevent these increases, at least at a continental or global scale. In a companion Perspectives piece in Science, authors Fabio Falchi and Salvador Bara call for a new approach to slow, halt, and reverse this alarming trend. They conclude, “light pollution is an environmental problem and should be confronted and solved.” New approaches could include establishing regional lighting budgets and limits based on sky quality over parks, protected areas, and astronomical sites. In other words, taking a similar approach to how we regulate and control air and water pollution. This is consistent with the approach we called for in our European policy brief released to support the Brno appeal to reduce light pollution in Europe. Unlike many other forms of pollution, we can reduce light pollution using existing technology. Once addressed, the results are immediate, and the cost savings, in terms of ongoing energy savings, are significant. Critically, it does not mean turning off all the lights. By following the Five Principles for Responsible Lighting, we can take immediate steps to reduce light pollution while enhancing light quality at night.
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Sourced from the Los Angeles Times and darksky.org Those aged 30 and younger may never have experienced a truly dark night sky. And if no action is taken, they never will. Every year, the remaining dark patches on this planet shrink as both the amount of artificial light used and the area it covers grow by about 2% per year. And satellite “megaconstellations” add to terrestrial light pollution in even the darkest skies. The changes go largely unnoticed because it’s difficult to perceive what we’re losing so gradually yet persistently. Adapted from John Barentine Ph.D. Dark Sky Consulting, LLC To confront problems effectively, we must understand them. And to tackle the problem of light pollution around the world, we must become familiar with the knowns and the unknowns of the subject. In support of that goal, last month the International Dark-Sky Association (IDA) released the “Artificial Light at Night: State of the Science 2022” report. It is a high-level overview of the best of our scientific understanding of how artificial light at night affects the nighttime environment. It finds the world transformed by electric light in less than 150 years since its introduction. This document condenses the current scientific consensus on how artificial light affects seven key topics: The Night Sky Light emitted into the night sky makes it difficult to see the stars. On the ground, artificial light at night (ALAN) makes the nighttime environment brighter. Weather changes like clouds and snow on the ground can make this impact worse. New and inexpensive light sources like white light-emitting diodes (LEDs) have a growing impact on both the night sky and outdoor spaces at night. Wildlife and Ecology ALAN exposure impacts almost every species studied by scientists. It interferes with their biology and changes how they interact with the environment. This harms ecosystems and can make plants and animals less resilient in the face of environmental change. Human Health Scientific evidence establishes a link between ALAN exposure and adverse human health consequences. These include disruptions in chemical signaling in the body, certain kinds of changes at the genetic level, and shifts in sleep/wake cycles set by natural light sources. These effects may contribute to the incidence of certain chronic diseases in some people. These conclusions are largely drawn from controlled studies of exposures to indoor lighting, suggesting caution in interpreting the influence of outdoor lighting on health. Public Safety The belief that outdoor lighting improves traffic safety and discourages or prevents crime is common. It may explain in part the rapid growth in the use of outdoor light at night in recent years and decades. There are cases where the careful application of outdoor lighting may improve nighttime safety, but there is no general benefit supported by scientific evidence. Energy Use and Climate Change Wasted outdoor light at night is wasted energy. The world remains highly dependent on fossil fuels to generate electricity. Since light pollution represents a waste of energy, it also contributes directly to climate change. Social Justice We know very little about how ALAN affects people in social contexts. Light at night may be used in ways that affect neighborhoods according to the race of the people who live in them. That may make light at night use a matter of social and environmental justice. Earth Orbiting Sources of Light Pollution The number of artificial satellites surrounding the Earth is increasing rapidly. Satellites reflect sunlight to the ground and change the appearance of the night sky. Because they raise night sky brightness, they are a new kind of light pollution threat. Scientific interest in light pollution is surging, and the number of scientific papers on the subject published each year is now three times higher than it was a decade ago. Researchers make new discoveries and collect data supporting earlier conclusions. The landscape of light pollution research changes often. As such, we consider this report as a “living document” that will be updated in the future to account for further developments in the various fields of artificial light at night research.
For a closer look at how and why IDA created this report, click here to watch the March 2022 Advocates Meeting presented by Dr. John Barentine. Photo Southern Methodist University - phys.org
The brightening night sky negatively impacts behavioral changes in animals and causes decreased plant growth. Both sunlit days and dark nights are essential. Unlike humans, most animals use the varied lighting as cues when to feed, mate and migrate. Too much artificial light confuses their instinctive activity, creating fatigue, and can even lead to a halt in their normal behavior, such as the natural migration of birds, salmon, etc. When they don’t reach their destination at the appropriate time of year, it can cause a decline in their population, and make them vulnerable to harsh weather, starvation and the danger of being preyed on by other animals. Without dark nights, plants slow in their growth as well. Both plants and animals have relied on the predictable rhythm of day and night, and humans have disrupted this cycle with light pollution. Continue reading here. APRIL 22 - 30, 2022 US Department of Energy Scott Minos, March 28, 2022 When considering the environment and pollution, thoughts usually go to water, air, and the land. But there are other kinds of pollution, including pollution from lighting. International Dark Sky Week aims to bring attention and action to this lesser known type of pollution. Any artificial light that is not needed is considered light pollution. Light pollution is increasing at 2x rate of population growth and 83% of the global population lives under a light-polluted sky.
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