The Issue:
80% of the global population is affected by light pollution
Contribution to Global WarmingCon
~35% of light is wasted by unshielded and/or inadequately aimed outdoor lighting which equates to around $3 billion per year. Globally we spend at least $50 billion in energy costs with only 1% of artificial light we produce being useful according to The Dark Sky Org.
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This means that ~600 million trees would need to be plated to offset the amount of carbon emission needed to power residential outdoor lighting in the USA alone
Check out this pdf by the Dark Sky Org for more information.
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Did you know that light pollution adds excess heat into the air? – National Geographic
Plant and Animal Ecosystem Disruption
Nocturnal animals’ circadian rhythms can be disrupted as they rely on the natural darkness to regulate their sleep patterns.
Light pollution disrupts their behavior and increases their stress levels. Also, many species use natural light cues like the stars for navigation which causes shifts in migration routes.
For plants, they rely on the natural light and dark cycles to regulate their growth. Light pollution disrupts these cycles and in turn affects pollinators and overall ecosystem dynamics. Penn State
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European ash trees tend to bud ~5 days earlier in brighter areas compared w darker areas
Damages to Health
Exposure to artificial light at night is harmful to human health, especially blue and white light, which affects your body’s production of melatonin that regulates sleep.
This disruption leads to difficulties in falling asleep, decreased sleep duration, and sleep quality, which leads to health issues of insomnia and fatigue.
According to one study published by the National Library of Medicine, exposure to artificial light at night is associated with an increased incidence of cancer, metabolic disorders, and mood disorders.
Disruption of Astronomical Research
Light pollution diminishes the visibility of celestial objects in the night sky such as stars and planets, which makes it hard to observe faint stars, galaxies, and other objects.
It limits the effectiveness of telescopes and other astronomical instruments, impacting the clarity and resolution of observations.
Since professional astronomers must be located in remote dark sky areas to minimize light pollution interference, the increase in light pollution makes it challenging to access clear and unpolluted skies for astronomical research.
