NITELite: A High-Altitude Balloon Light Pollution Research Mission

The impacts of artificial light at night (ALAN) on marine ecosystems have emerged as a focus for ecological light pollution research in recent years, yet the global prevalence of ALAN in underwater marine ecosystems is unknown. We have derived a global atlas of ALAN throughout the marine water column that will accelerate our understanding of its sources and environmental impacts. At a depth of 1 m, 1.9 million km2 of the world’s coastal seas are exposed to biologically important ALAN, which equates to around 3.1% of the global exclusive economic zones. This area decreases to 1.6 million km2 (2.7%) at a depth of 10 m, and to 840,000 km2 (1.4%) at 20 m. The most heavily exposed regions are those that experience intensive offshore development in addition to coastal urbanization. The atlas highlights that ALAN as a global change issue is not exclusive to land but is also widespread in the world’s underwater habitats at irradiances that elicit biological responses in marine organisms.

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Night-sky radiometry can revolutionize the characterization of light-pollution sources globally

Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences ◽

10.1073/pnas.1900153116 ◽

2019 ◽

Vol 116 (16) ◽

pp. 7712-7717 ◽

Cited By ~ 12

Author(s):

Miroslav Kocifaj ◽

Héctor Antonio Solano-Lamphar ◽

Gorden Videen

Keyword(s):

Light Output ◽

Light Pollution ◽

Pollution Research ◽

Output Pattern ◽

Night Sky ◽

Cost Efficient ◽

The City ◽

New Phase ◽

Emission Function

The city emission function (CEF), describing the angular emission from an entire city as a light source, is one of the key elements in night-sky radiance models. The CEF describes the rate at which skyglow depends on distance and is indispensable in any prediction of light-pollution propagation into nocturnal environments. Nevertheless, the CEF remains virtually unexplored because appropriate retrieval tools have been unavailable until very recently. A CEF has now been obtained from ground-based night-sky observations and establishes an experiment successfully conducted in the field to retrieve the angular emission function for an urban area. The field campaign was conducted near the city of Los Mochis, Mexico, which is well isolated from other cities and thus dominates all light emissions in its vicinity. The experiment has proven that radiometry of a night sky can provide information on the light output pattern of a distant city and allows for systematic, full-area, and cost-efficient CEF monitoring worldwide. A database of CEFs could initiate a completely new phase in light-pollution research, with significant economy and advanced accuracy of night-sky brightness predictions. The experiment and its interpretation represent unique progress in the field and contribute to our fundamental understanding of the mechanism by which direct and reflected uplight interact while forming the CEF.

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Living Environmental Laboratory for Lighting — A comprehensive study of interactions of artificial lighting and wildlifes

10.5194/egusphere-egu2020-6065 ◽

2020 ◽

Author(s):

Kai Pong Tong ◽

Zoltán Kolláth

Keyword(s):

National Parks ◽

Light Pollution ◽

Artificial Light ◽

Human Beings ◽

Pollution Research ◽

Environmental Laboratory ◽

Sky Brightness ◽

Night Sky ◽

The Impact ◽

Night Sky Brightness

Artificial light at night (ALAN) has become a major concern in recent years due to its impact on the health of human beings and the ecosystems. As a result, there is a surge of light pollution research not only on night sky brightness, but also on assessments of impacts on both ecology and society.We have set up an interdisciplinary project in Hungary since September 2017, to not only study the impacts of change in lighting technology on patterns of ALAN (with emphasis on the areas within and around national parks in Hungary), but also facilitate national and international cooperations in light pollution research. We refer to this project as Living Environmental Laboratory for Lighting (LELL). Specifically, the project covers the following areas:1. Development of new techniques for night sky radiometry and spectrometry We are developing techniques for night sky multispectral measurements using commercially available cameras with interchangeable lens, calibrated by high sensitivity spectroradiometer, in order to quantify night sky condition and identify sources of artificial light at high resolution not achieveable by systems based on panchromatic sensors or fisheye lenses. In addition, we will compare the results from our ground-based measurements with satellite-based observations.2. Modeling of night sky patterns in national parks of Hungary We have developed a Monte-Carlo method of modeling light pollution, which can also be used for investigating effects of aerosols and clouds on the propagation of artificial light.3. Impact assessments of ALAN through measurements The public lighting was remodeled to LED-based systems in two areas close to national parks, one of which in the Zselic region in Southwestern Hungary, and another in B&#252;kk in Northern Hungary. Using the techniques above, we are monitoring the change in night sky brightness and color, as well as the impact on flora and fauna.4. Recommendations on future assessments and mitigations of light pollution With our experience gain within the duration of this project, we will inform the light pollution research community of standardizing methodologies for monitoring light pollution, as well as giving recommendations for managing public lighting assets to reduce the impacts of light pollution. Acknowledgement This project is supported by the European Union and co-financed by the European Social Fund (Grant no. EFOP&#8211;3.6.2&#8211;16&#8211;201&#8211;00014: Development of international research environment for light pollution studies)

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Insect attraction to the six major types of traditional-style, residential light bulbs and implications for insect survival and light pollution

10.1101/2021.05.06.442978 ◽

2021 ◽

Author(s):

Michael J Justice ◽

Teresa C Justice

Keyword(s):

Light Trap ◽

Insect Behavior ◽

Early Spring ◽

Color Temperature ◽

Light Pollution ◽

Artificial Light ◽

Light Bulb ◽

Light At Night ◽

Pollution Research ◽

Insect Attraction

Artificial light at night can affect the behavior and survival of the arthropods attracted to it. Most light pollution research focuses on high-wattage street lamps, but lower-wattage lamps used to illuminate porches, paths, facades, and backyards vastly outnumber street lamps. Thus, residential consumers could potentially have an enormous influence on artificial light ecologies by their choice of lamp. This study compared insect attraction to the six major types of traditional-style, residential light bulb: incandescent, CFL, halogen, warm color temperature LED, cool color temperature LED, and the yellow bug lights marketed as reducing insect attraction. The bulbs were alternately used in a baffle-funnel light trap from early spring through late fall, and capture rates were determined for the orders of insects. Incandescent bulbs produced the highest trap captures; the warm color temperature LED bulb produced the fewest, even fewer than the yellow bug light. The yellow bug light attracted more Dermaptera (Leach) than the other bulbs. The data support a recommendation of LED bulbs, especially those with a warm color temperature, to minimize the effects of night lighting on insect behavior and mortality. Further, the use of yellow bug lights, in contrast to their marketing, could attract earwigs and other minor pests.

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Maps of light pollution in odd places

International Journal of Sustainable Lighting ◽

10.26607/ijsl.v22i1.96 ◽

2020 ◽

Vol 22 (1) ◽

pp. 1-11

Author(s):

Jari Lyytimaki

Keyword(s):

Remote Sensing ◽

Societal Implications ◽

Light Pollution ◽

Night Time ◽

The Public ◽

Management Actions ◽

Policy Awareness ◽

Pollution Research ◽

Awareness Raising ◽

Multiple Uses

Advances in remote sensing have proved to be highly valuable for the light pollution research and awareness raising. Maps based on night time satellite data can be used in communication campaigns aimed to improve the public and policy awareness about the extent and effects of light pollution and to justify appropriate management actions. However, visually appealing maps are also used in other communication settings. This article reviews different uses of light pollution maps and discusses the societal implications such uses. Based on examples of light pollution maps in different communication settings not directly related to light pollution debate the review proposes that the relatively wide popularity of light pollution maps may strengthen the impressions of artificially illuminated night environment as the normal baseline for human experience. This contributes to the loss of experience of the natural darkness possibly leading to generational amnesia complicating the management of light pollution. Multiple uses of light pollution maps and other visualizations should be taken into account when campaigns and policies aimed to support sustainable lighting are planned and implemented.

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Contrast of Filament Bright Rims

International Astronomical Union Colloquium ◽

10.1017/s0252921100025628 ◽

1994 ◽

Vol 144 ◽

pp. 365-367

Author(s):

E. V. Kononovich ◽

O. B. Smirnova ◽

P. Heinzel ◽

P. Kotrč

Keyword(s):

High Altitude ◽

Line Profile ◽

Line Center ◽

Magnetic Structures ◽

The Mean

AbstractThe Hα filtergrams obtained at Tjan-Shan High Altitude Observatory near Alma-Ata (Moscow University Station) were measured in order to specify the bright rims contrast at different points along the line profile (0.0; ± 0.25; ± 0.5; ± 0.75 and ± 1.0 Å). The mean contrast value in the line center is about 25 percent. The bright rims interpretation as the bases of magnetic structures supporting the filaments is suggested.

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Clean Electron Microscope Substrate Films Used for Micrometeorite Collection and Study

Proceedings, annual meeting, Electron Microscopy Society of America ◽

10.1017/s0424820100061847 ◽

1967 ◽

Vol 25 ◽

pp. 366-367

Author(s):

D. M. Davies ◽

R. Kemner ◽

E. F. Fullam

Keyword(s):

Thin Film ◽

Electron Microscope ◽

High Altitude ◽

Amyl Acetate ◽

Temperature Variations ◽

Film Forming ◽

Film Specimen ◽

Particulate Contaminants

All serious electron microscopists at one time or another have been concerned with the cleanliness and freedom from artifacts of thin film specimen support substrates. This is particularly important where there are relatively few particles of a sample to be found for study, as in the case of micrometeorite collections. For the deposition of such celestial garbage through the use of balloons, rockets, and aircraft, the thin film substrates must have not only all the attributes necessary for use in the electron microscope, but also be able to withstand rather wide temperature variations at high altitude, vibration and shock inherent in the collection vehicle's operation and occasionally an unscheduled violent landing.Nitrocellulose has been selected as a film forming material that meets these requirements yet lends itself to a relatively simple clean-up procedure to remove particulate contaminants. A 1% nitrocellulose solution is prepared by dissolving “Parlodion” in redistilled amyl acetate from which all moisture has been removed.

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