Light pollution is the anthropogenic impact of artificial city lighting on the night sky. This is a rather broad term that also covers a number of problems caused by the unnecessary and illiterate use of artificial lighting. Light pollution is a side effect of industrialization. Common in big cities.
Types of Light Pollution
In total, there are about 5 types of light pollution. Let’s consider each of them in more detail:
lighting breakdown
A fairly common problem caused by unwanted light that enters homes and causes the problem of insomnia. Many countries around the world are developing standards for outdoor city lighting, which will protect people from its harmful effects on health.
Excessive lighting
This wasted use of light reduces oil resources by a million barrels each year in the US alone. This is caused by reasons such as the use of light during the day, the wrong lamps and the use of indirect light.
Bright light
This type of light pollution causes a threat to the public, in particular to the elderly. Glare of bright light entering the retina of the eye can cause serious visual impairment. Also, its detrimental effect causes problems on the roads. If you look at the blinding light of the sun, you can get a temporary visual impairment.
light disorder
The problem is caused by a huge accumulation of city lights that have an impact on a person.
sky glow
Occurs as a result of the reflection of light from illuminated surfaces and light directed to the sky. They are scattered by the Earth’s atmosphere and cause a peculiar night glow.
All of the above types of light pollution have a serious impact not only on the ecosystem, but also on human health in general.
Anthropogenic impact
Exposure to light pollution greatly affects wildlife. Such strong lighting causes many migratory animal species to confuse time, change predator-prey relationships and cause aggression. For animals, nature is measured by the natural regularity of the time of day, and their artificial disturbance adversely affects the dynamics of wildlife life. Approximately 25% of global consumption is for electricity. Many studies have come to the conclusion that the strong influence of light on a person leads to apathy and insomnia. Circadian rhythms go astray due to which melatonin, which is responsible for sleep, ceases to be produced at the right time.
Fighting Light Pollution
The process of combating light pollution has two directions: limiting artificial lighting and implementing efficient light distribution in the city. Many countries are actively fighting light lighting by planning unified urban lighting, control of new and existing lighting installations. For example, in the United States, the first night sky reserve was created, where the amount of incoming light is strictly regulated. Norway introduces dynamic lighting when the brightness of the road is reduced if there are no cars on the roads. Everyone can contribute to the fight against light pollution by not using the light in the apartment as unnecessary.
Light pollution map of Eurasia
Light pollution map of Europe
US light pollution map
