Contested futures for lighting in urban spaces: drawing on ideas about messiness and resistance to inform lighting education strategies against light pollution. Author Mary-Anne Kyriakou
Activity: 20 minutes
Astronomer Lucianne Walkowicz shares her experience as an astronomer and discusses the problem of light pollution. Walkowicz discussion on the incandescent lamp is out of date and doesn't include a discussion on LED lighting which is the prevalent light source contributing greatly to light pollution. Citizen science is introduced and discussed how citizens can participate with real science projects including the Kepler mission's project to planet hunt and annotate graphs.
Look up for a change: Lucianne Walkowicz at TEDxPhoenix:
Another talk on light pollution is from an American park ranger Diane Knutson. What are the lighting ordinances in your area? Why we need darkness to survive?
Referring to the Bortle scale here, which category does your home come under? Have you seen the Milky Way?
Is light pollution subjective?
What are the three categories of light pollution?
If light is trespassing into your home or you are creating light trespass, adding reflectors to direct lighting to the ground will reduce light pollution. Speak to your local council to assist in finding lighting governance ordinances and act on reducing light pollution.
Download and explore the mobile phone application “Loss of the night” created by Kyba, Germany. Which stars can you see on a cloudless night?
Optional lighting activities
Go through the optional reading on light pollution by Chepesiuk here.
Are there advertising signs and illuminated bus stations near your home?
Does darkness threaten our concept of security? Would you drive or walk to the grocery store without street lighting?
Lyytamiki describes our night experience as a shifting baseline. A shifting baseline means that we no longer expect to see the night sky filled with stars and that this generation and the next generation will eventually be unable to see the skies at night.
What does light pollution mean for humans? For plant and animal life?
Altermatt, F. and D. Ebert (2016). "Reduced flight-to-light behaviour of moth populations exposed to long-term urban light pollution." Biol Lett 12(4).
Ffrench-Constant, R. H., et al. (2016). "Light pollution is associated with earlier tree budburst across the United Kingdom." Proc Biol Sci 283(1833).
Gaston, K. J., et al. (2013). "The ecological impacts of nighttime light pollution: a mechanistic appraisal." Biol Rev Camb Philos Soc 88(4): 912-927.
Gaston, K. J., et al. (2012). "Reducing the ecological consequences of night-time light pollution: options and developments." J Appl Ecol 49(6): 1256-1266.
Holker, F., et al. (2010). "Light pollution as a biodiversity threat." Trends Ecol Evol 25(12): 681-682.
Jedidi, H., et al. (2015). "[Light pollution. A connection between ecology and health]." Rev Med Liege 70(11): 557-562.
Joseph, J. H., et al. (1991). "Urban light pollution: the effect of atmospheric aerosols on astronomical observations at night." Appl Opt 30(21): 3047-3058.
Kamdar, B. B., et al. (2017). "Noise and Light Pollution in the Hospital: A Call for Action." J Hosp Med 12(10): 861-862.
Kerenyi, N. A., et al. (1990). "Why the incidence of cancer is increasing: the role of 'light pollution'." Med Hypotheses 33(2): 75-78.
Kim, K. H., et al. (2015). "A study on the risk perception of light pollution and the process of social amplification of risk in Korea." Environ Sci Pollut Res Int 22(10): 7612-7621.
Kyba, C. C., et al. (2011). "Cloud coverage acts as an amplifier for ecological light pollution in urban ecosystems." PLoS One 6(3): e17307.
La Sorte, F. A., et al. (2017). "Seasonal associations with urban light pollution for nocturnally migrating bird populations." Glob Chang Biol 23(11): 4609-4619.
Lacoeuilhe, A., et al. (2014). "The influence of low intensities of light pollution on bat communities in a semi-natural context." PLoS One 9(10): e103042.
Le Tallec, T., et al. (2013). "Light pollution modifies the expression of daily rhythms and behavior patterns in a nocturnal primate." PLoS One 8(11): e79250.
Lima, R. C., et al. (2016). "Light pollution: Assessment of sky glow on two dark sky regions of Portugal." J Toxicol Environ Health A 79(7): 307-319.
Luarte, T., et al. (2016). "Light pollution reduces activity, food consumption and growth rates in a sandy beach invertebrate." Environ Pollut 218: 1147-1153.
Meyer, L. A. and S. M. Sullivan (2013). "Bright lights, big city: influences of ecological light pollution on reciprocal stream-riparian invertebrate fluxes." Ecol Appl 23(6): 1322-1330.
Miller, C. R., et al. (2017). "Combined effects of night warming and light pollution on predator-prey interactions." Proc Biol Sci 284(1864).
Navarro-Barranco, C. and L. E. Hughes (2015). "Effects of light pollution on the emergent fauna of shallow marine ecosystems: Amphipods as a case study." Mar Pollut Bull 94(1-2): 235-240.
Ouyang, J. Q., et al. (2017). "Restless roosts: Light pollution affects behavior, sleep, and physiology in a free-living songbird." Glob Chang Biol 23(11): 4987-4994.
Pun, C. S. and C. W. So (2012). "Night-sky brightness monitoring in Hong Kong: a city-wide light pollution assessment." Environ Monit Assess 184(4): 2537-2557.
Raap, T., et al. (2015). "Light pollution disrupts sleep in free-living animals." Sci Rep 5: 13557.
Raap, T., et al. (2017). "Rigorous field experiments are essential to understand the genuine severity of light pollution and to identify possible solutions." Glob Chang Biol.
Raap, T., et al. (2017). "Disruptive effects of light pollution on sleep in free-living birds: Season and/or light intensity-dependent?" Behav Processes 144: 13-19.
Rabaza, O., et al. (2010). "All-sky brightness monitoring of light pollution with astronomical methods." J Environ Manage 91(6): 1278-1287.
Raven, J. A. and C. S. Cockell (2006). "Influence on photosynthesis of starlight, moonlight, planetlight, and light pollution (reflections on photosynthetically active radiation in the universe)." Astrobiology 6(4): 668-675.
Reiter, R. J., et al. (2006). "Light pollution, melatonin suppression and cancer growth." J Pineal Res 40(4): 357-358.
Riegel, K. W. (1973). "Light Pollution: Outdoor lighting is a growing threat to astronomy." Science 179(4080): 1285-1291.
Rodriguez, A., et al. (2015). "GPS tracking for mapping seabird mortality induced by light pollution." Sci Rep 5: 10670.
Romeo, S., et al. (2013). "Bright light exposure reduces TH-positive dopamine neurons: implications of light pollution in Parkinson's disease epidemiology." Sci Rep 3: 1395.
Schernhammer, E. S. and K. L. Stone (2011). "Light pollution not equal light pollution?" Chronobiol Int 28(4): 378-379; author reply 379-380.
Settele, J. (2009). "Ecologists should join astronomers to oppose light pollution." Nature 457(7228): 379.
Silva, E., et al. (2017). "Light pollution affects nesting behavior of loggerhead turtles and predation risk of nests and hatchlings." J Photochem Photobiol B 173: 240-249.
Smolensky, M. H., et al. (2015). "Nocturnal light pollution and underexposure to daytime sunlight: Complementary mechanisms of circadian disruption and related diseases." Chronobiol Int 32(8): 1029-1048.
Solano Lamphar, H. A. and M. Kocifaj (2013). "Light pollution in ultraviolet and visible spectrum: effect on different visual perceptions." PLoS One 8(2): e56563.
Spitschan, M., et al. (2016). "Variation of outdoor illumination as a function of solar elevation and light pollution." Sci Rep 6: 26756.
Szaz, D., et al. (2015). "Lamp-lit bridges as dual light-traps for the night-swarming mayfly, Ephoron virgo: interaction of polarized and unpolarized light pollution." PLoS One 10(3): e0121194.
Tamir, R., et al. (2017). "The spectral and spatial distribution of light pollution in the waters of the northern Gulf of Aqaba (Eilat)." Sci Rep 7: 42329.
Vinogradova, I. A., et al. (2014). "[Light pollution, desynchronosis and aging: the state of problem and solutions]." Adv Gerontol 27(2): 265-268.
Votsi, N. P., et al. (2017). "An environmental index of noise and light pollution at EU by spatial correlation of quiet and unlit areas." Environmental Pollution 221: 459-469.
Wyse, C. A., et al. (2011). "Circadian desynchrony and metabolic dysfunction; did light pollution make us fat?" Med Hypotheses 77(6): 1139-1144.
Yorzinski, J. L., et al. (2015). "Artificial light pollution increases nocturnal vigilance in peahens." PeerJ 3: e1174.
Light Pollution References
Altermatt, F. and D. Ebert (2016). "Reduced flight-to-light behaviour of moth populations exposed to long-term urban light pollution." Biol Lett 12(4).
Ffrench-Constant, R. H., et al. (2016). "Light pollution is associated with earlier tree budburst across the United Kingdom." Proc Biol Sci 283(1833).
Gaston, K. J., et al. (2013). "The ecological impacts of nighttime light pollution: a mechanistic appraisal." Biol Rev Camb Philos Soc 88(4): 912-927.
Gaston, K. J., et al. (2012). "Reducing the ecological consequences of night-time light pollution: options and developments." J Appl Ecol 49(6): 1256-1266.
Holker, F., et al. (2010). "Light pollution as a biodiversity threat." Trends Ecol Evol 25(12): 681-682.
Jedidi, H., et al. (2015). "[Light pollution. A connection between ecology and health]." Rev Med Liege 70(11): 557-562.
Joseph, J. H., et al. (1991). "Urban light pollution: the effect of atmospheric aerosols on astronomical observations at night." Appl Opt 30(21): 3047-3058.
Kamdar, B. B., et al. (2017). "Noise and Light Pollution in the Hospital: A Call for Action." J Hosp Med 12(10): 861-862.
Kerenyi, N. A., et al. (1990). "Why the incidence of cancer is increasing: the role of 'light pollution'." Med Hypotheses 33(2): 75-78.
Kim, K. H., et al. (2015). "A study on the risk perception of light pollution and the process of social amplification of risk in Korea." Environ Sci Pollut Res Int 22(10): 7612-7621.
Kyba, C. C., et al. (2011). "Cloud coverage acts as an amplifier for ecological light pollution in urban ecosystems." PLoS One 6(3): e17307.
La Sorte, F. A., et al. (2017). "Seasonal associations with urban light pollution for nocturnally migrating bird populations." Glob Chang Biol 23(11): 4609-4619.
Lacoeuilhe, A., et al. (2014). "The influence of low intensities of light pollution on bat communities in a semi-natural context." PLoS One 9(10): e103042.
Le Tallec, T., et al. (2013). "Light pollution modifies the expression of daily rhythms and behavior patterns in a nocturnal primate." PLoS One 8(11): e79250.
Lima, R. C., et al. (2016). "Light pollution: Assessment of sky glow on two dark sky regions of Portugal." J Toxicol Environ Health A 79(7): 307-319.
Luarte, T., et al. (2016). "Light pollution reduces activity, food consumption and growth rates in a sandy beach invertebrate." Environ Pollut 218: 1147-1153.
Meyer, L. A. and S. M. Sullivan (2013). "Bright lights, big city: influences of ecological light pollution on reciprocal stream-riparian invertebrate fluxes." Ecol Appl 23(6): 1322-1330.
Miller, C. R., et al. (2017). "Combined effects of night warming and light pollution on predator-prey interactions." Proc Biol Sci 284(1864).
Navarro-Barranco, C. and L. E. Hughes (2015). "Effects of light pollution on the emergent fauna of shallow marine ecosystems: Amphipods as a case study." Mar Pollut Bull 94(1-2): 235-240.
Ouyang, J. Q., et al. (2017). "Restless roosts: Light pollution affects behavior, sleep, and physiology in a free-living songbird." Glob Chang Biol 23(11): 4987-4994.
Pun, C. S. and C. W. So (2012). "Night-sky brightness monitoring in Hong Kong: a city-wide light pollution assessment." Environ Monit Assess 184(4): 2537-2557.
Raap, T., et al. (2015). "Light pollution disrupts sleep in free-living animals." Sci Rep 5: 13557.
Raap, T., et al. (2017). "Rigorous field experiments are essential to understand the genuine severity of light pollution and to identify possible solutions." Glob Chang Biol.
Raap, T., et al. (2017). "Disruptive effects of light pollution on sleep in free-living birds: Season and/or light intensity-dependent?" Behav Processes 144: 13-19.
Rabaza, O., et al. (2010). "All-sky brightness monitoring of light pollution with astronomical methods." J Environ Manage 91(6): 1278-1287.
Raven, J. A. and C. S. Cockell (2006). "Influence on photosynthesis of starlight, moonlight, planetlight, and light pollution (reflections on photosynthetically active radiation in the universe)." Astrobiology 6(4): 668-675.
Reiter, R. J., et al. (2006). "Light pollution, melatonin suppression and cancer growth." J Pineal Res 40(4): 357-358.
Riegel, K. W. (1973). "Light Pollution: Outdoor lighting is a growing threat to astronomy." Science 179(4080): 1285-1291.
Rodriguez, A., et al. (2015). "GPS tracking for mapping seabird mortality induced by light pollution." Sci Rep 5: 10670.
Romeo, S., et al. (2013). "Bright light exposure reduces TH-positive dopamine neurons: implications of light pollution in Parkinson's disease epidemiology." Sci Rep 3: 1395.
Schernhammer, E. S. and K. L. Stone (2011). "Light pollution not equal light pollution?" Chronobiol Int 28(4): 378-379; author reply 379-380.
Settele, J. (2009). "Ecologists should join astronomers to oppose light pollution." Nature 457(7228): 379.
Silva, E., et al. (2017). "Light pollution affects nesting behavior of loggerhead turtles and predation risk of nests and hatchlings." J Photochem Photobiol B 173: 240-249.
Smolensky, M. H., et al. (2015). "Nocturnal light pollution and underexposure to daytime sunlight: Complementary mechanisms of circadian disruption and related diseases." Chronobiol Int 32(8): 1029-1048.
Solano Lamphar, H. A. and M. Kocifaj (2013). "Light pollution in ultraviolet and visible spectrum: effect on different visual perceptions." PLoS One 8(2): e56563.
Spitschan, M., et al. (2016). "Variation of outdoor illumination as a function of solar elevation and light pollution." Sci Rep 6: 26756.
Szaz, D., et al. (2015). "Lamp-lit bridges as dual light-traps for the night-swarming mayfly, Ephoron virgo: interaction of polarized and unpolarized light pollution." PLoS One 10(3): e0121194.
Tamir, R., et al. (2017). "The spectral and spatial distribution of light pollution in the waters of the northern Gulf of Aqaba (Eilat)." Sci Rep 7: 42329.
Vinogradova, I. A., et al. (2014). "[Light pollution, desynchronosis and aging: the state of problem and solutions]." Adv Gerontol 27(2): 265-268.
Votsi, N. P., et al. (2017). "An environmental index of noise and light pollution at EU by spatial correlation of quiet and unlit areas." Environmental Pollution 221: 459-469.
Wyse, C. A., et al. (2011). "Circadian desynchrony and metabolic dysfunction; did light pollution make us fat?" Med Hypotheses 77(6): 1139-1144.
Yorzinski, J. L., et al. (2015). "Artificial light pollution increases nocturnal vigilance in peahens." PeerJ 3: e1174.