scholarly journals Overnight measurements of the sky brightness as a method for assessing the cloudiness

2019 ◽  
Vol 11 (3) ◽  
pp. 72 ◽  
Author(s):  
Tomasz Ściężor
Keyword(s):  
Urban Ecosystems ◽  
Light Pollution ◽  
Mountain Areas ◽  
Cloud Coverage ◽  
Royal Astronomical Society ◽  
Innovative Method ◽  
Low Levels ◽  
Night Sky ◽  
High Level ◽  
The Impact

Determining the state of cloudiness at night is always a problem, especially at low levels of light pollution. This paper presents an innovative method of assessing the cloudiness of the night sky solely on the basis of all-night measurements of the brightness of the sky using generally available SQM meters. Using the numerical method of calculating the discrete derivative of the overnight brightness of the night sky from time it is possible not only to distinguish a cloudless sky from a cloudy one, but even to distinguish the high level clouds from medium and low level ones. Full Text: PDF ReferencesKyba C.C.M., Ruhtz T., Fischer J., Hölker F., Cloud Coverage Acts as an Amplifier for Ecological Light Pollution in Urban Ecosystems, PLoS ONE, vol. 6, no. 3, 2011, e17307. CrossRef Ściężor T., The impact of clouds on the brightness of the night sky, to be published in Journal of Quantitative Spectroscopy and Radiative Transfer, 2020 CrossRef Ściężor T., Kubala M., Kaszowski W., Light Pollution of the Mountain Areas in Poland, Archives of Environmental Protection, Vol.38, No.4, 2012, pp. 59-69. CrossRef Crawford D.L., Photometry: terminology and units in the lighting and astronomical sciences, The Observatory, vol. 117, 1997, pp. 14-18. DirectLink Ściężor T., Kubala M., Particulate matter as an amplifier for astronomical light pollution, Monthly Notices of the Royal Astronomical Society, vol. 444, no. 3, 2014, pp. 2487-2493. CrossRef

THE IMPACT OF GENDER, ANXIETY, AND DEPRESSION ON PERFORMANCE ON PURSUIT ROTOR

2007 ◽  
Vol 35 (5) ◽  
pp. 615-626
Author(s):  
Khader Baroun
Keyword(s):  
Undergraduate Students ◽  
Depression Scale ◽  
Anxiety Scale ◽  
Anxiety And Depression ◽  
Kuwait University ◽  
Pursuit Rotor ◽  
Low Levels ◽  
High Level ◽  
The Impact ◽  
Significant Increment

In this study the impact of gender, levels of anxiety, and depression on pursuit rotor performance task was investigated. The participants were 292 undergraduate students (171 men and 121 women) of Kuwait University, Kuwait. They completed an anxiety scale, depression scale, and 4 speed levels of pursuit rotor. They were divided into 3 groups (low, middle, and high anxiety and depression) based on their scores on the Kuwait University Anxiety Scale (KUAS; Abdel-Khalek, 2000) and the Beck Depression Inventory (BDI-II; Beck, Ward, Mendelson, Mock, & Erbaugh, 1961). The results revealed that groups of men with low levels of anxiety, and high level of depression showed significant increment in performance and had more time on target than the other groups in all 4 speed sessions, whereas women displayed less time on target of pursuit rotor.

scholarly journals Evidence That Reduced Air and Road Traffic Decreased Artificial Night-Time Skyglow during COVID-19 Lockdown in Berlin, Germany

2020 ◽  
Vol 12 (20) ◽  
pp. 3412
Author(s):  
Andreas Jechow ◽  
Franz Hölker
Keyword(s):  
Road Traffic ◽  
Satellite Image ◽  
Color Temperature ◽  
Light Pollution ◽  
Artificial Light ◽  
Night Time ◽  
Sky Brightness ◽  
Night Sky ◽  
The Impact ◽  
Night Sky Brightness

Artificial skyglow, the brightening of the night sky by artificial light at night that is scattered back to Earth within the atmosphere, is detrimental to astronomical observations and has an impact on ecosystems as a form of light pollution. In this work, we investigated the impact of the lockdown caused by the COVID-19 pandemic on the urban skyglow of Berlin, Germany. We compared night sky brightness and correlated color temperature (CCT) measurements obtained with all-sky cameras during the COVID-19 lockdown in March 2020 with data from March 2017. Under normal conditions, we expected an increase in night sky brightness (or skyglow, respectively) and CCT because of the transition to LED. This is supported by a measured CCT shift to slightly higher values and a time series analysis of night-time light satellite data showing an increase in artificial light emission in Berlin. However, contrary to this observation, we measured a decrease in artificial skyglow at zenith by 20% at the city center and by more than 50% at 58 km distance from the center during the lockdown. We assume that the main cause for the reduction of artificial skyglow originates from improved air quality due to less air and road traffic, which is supported by statistical data and satellite image analysis. To our knowledge, this is the first reported impact of COVID-19 on artificial skyglow and we conclude that air pollution should shift more into the focus of light pollution research.

scholarly journals Looking Up to the Stars. A Call for Action to Save New Zealand’s Dark Skies for Future Generations to Come

2021 ◽  
Vol 13 (23) ◽  
pp. 13472
Author(s):  
Karolina M. Zielinska-Dabkowska ◽  
Kyra Xavia
Keyword(s):  
New Zealand ◽  
New Technologies ◽  
Action Plan ◽  
Outer Space ◽  
Rapid Development ◽  
National Level ◽  
Light Pollution ◽  
Night Time ◽  
Night Sky ◽  
The Impact

The rapid development of technology coupled with humanity’s desire to reach beyond terra firma, has resulted in more than 60 years of Outer Space activities. Although the exploration of space has provided many advantages and benefits to society so far, including vast, new information that has greatly added to our understanding of our planet and beyond, unfortunately, mankind’s footprint has negative aspects that need to be minimised as much as possible. In recent decades, a major worldwide problem has emerged in regard to the significant increase in light pollution from ground-based illuminations, as well as a lack of proper regulatory frameworks to mitigate the issue in order to protect the night sky and astronomical research. More recently, due to the escalating demand of air space for microsatellites and the rapid development of these new space technologies, as well as unmanned aerial vehicles (UAV), a new problem has arisen connected to visual light pollution (VLP). New Zealand has been especially affected, as, because of its dark skies, it has the third highest number of astronomical observatories in the world. The aim of this research is to identify critical areas for broader investigation; an action plan to improve the impact of new technologies is urgently required, not only at a national level but also worldwide. This is crucial in order to preserve humanity’s right to access the night sky and to also enable continual professional and amateur night-time observations for the present and the future, as well as for New Zealand to become a Dark Sky Nation.

scholarly journals Circalunar variations of the night sky brightness – an FFT perspective on the impact of light pollution

2019 ◽  
Vol 492 (2) ◽  
pp. 2622-2637 ◽  
Author(s):  
Johannes Puschnig ◽  
Stefan Wallner ◽  
Thomas Posch
Keyword(s):  
National Parks ◽  
Fourier Transforms ◽  
Small Towns ◽  
Light Pollution ◽  
Sky Brightness ◽  
Night Sky ◽  
Pollution Impacts ◽  
Seasonal Signal ◽  
The Impact ◽  
Night Sky Brightness

ABSTRACT Circa-monthly activity conducted by moonlight is observed in many species on Earth. Given the vast amount of artificial light at night (ALAN) that pollutes large areas around the globe, the synchronization to the circalunar cycle is often strongly perturbed. Using 2-yr data from a network of 23 photometers (Sky Quality Meters; SQM) in Austria (latitude ∼48°), we quantify how light pollution impacts the recognition of the circalunar periodicity. We do so via frequency analysis of nightly mean sky brightnesses using Fast Fourier Transforms. A very tight linear relation between the mean zenithal night sky brightness (NSB) given in $\mathrm {mag_{SQM}\, arcsec^{-2}}$ and the amplitude of the circalunar signal is found, indicating that for sites with a mean zenithal NSB brighter than 16.5 $\mathrm {mag_{SQM}\, arcsec^{-2}}$ the lunar rhythm practically vanishes. This finding implies that the circalunar rhythm is still detectable (within the broad bandpass of the SQM) at most places around the globe, but its amplitude against the light polluted sky is strongly reduced. We find that the circalunar contrast in zenith is reduced compared to ALAN-free sites by factors of $\frac{1}{9}$ in the state capital of Linz (∼200 000 inhabitants) and $\frac{1}{3}$ in small towns, e.g. Freistadt and Mattighofen, with less than 10 000 inhabitants. Only two of our sites, both situated in national parks (Bodinggraben and Zöblboden), show natural circalunar amplitudes. At our urban sites, we further detect a strong seasonal signal that is linked to the amplification of anthropogenic skyglow during the winter months due to climatological conditions.

scholarly journals Breads formulated with evolutionary populations of wheat heritage varieties on postprandial glycaemic and insulin responses in healthy subjects

2020 ◽  
Vol 79 (OCE2) ◽  
Author(s):  
Margherita Dall'Asta ◽  
Rossella Dodi ◽  
Giuseppe Di Pede ◽  
Mia Marchini ◽  
Silvia Folloni ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Healthy Subjects ◽  
Controlled Trial ◽  
Mountain Areas ◽  
Modern Variety ◽  
Rural Development Programme ◽  
Emilia Romagna Region ◽  
High Level ◽  
Insulin Responses ◽  
The Impact

AbstractTriticum heritage varieties and ancient species are gaining interest of consumers due to the perception of a healthier nutrition profile than other modern wheat. Although still limited, several findings highlighted the real potential beneficial role of ancient wheat-based products consumption on several cardiometabolic factors(1). However, a lack of information is still present, especially for their effect on postprandial glycaemia. Evolutionary populations (EPs) are plants within the same species in one field characterized by a high level of genetic diversity(2). EPs are evolving as a function of several environmental variables and in turn characterized by a high level of adaptability and biodiversity. EPs can drive agronomic advantages, especially under organic and low-input agricultural conditions, or in less favourable growing conditions(3). The aim of the present study, which is a part of a more comprehensive project called “BIO2”(4), was to evaluate the impact of breads made with EPs of heritage varieties and a modern variety, all produced under organic farming in mountain areas of Emilia Romagna Region (Italy), on postprandial glycaemic and insulin responses. The study is a randomized controlled trial in which 13 healthy subjects were enrolled for consuming 8 non-commercial breads made either with EPs (EPs named “BIO2” and “GROSSI” – of local heritage varieties, and EP “Solibam”) or with a modern variety (Bologna) produced with a standard recipe, but 2 different leavening techniques (S. Cerevisiae and sourdough). Subjects consumed breads in a portion containing 50 g of available carbohydrates and blood was collected for quantifying glycaemia and insulin during 2 hours. Incremental area under curves (IAUCs) and maximum peaks were compared among treatments. No differences were found in IAUCs and peaks for both the markers, showing that none of the tested EPs was effective in lowering glycaemic and insulin responses compared to the modern variety. Moreover, sourdough did not determine a lower blood glucose and insulin within the same type of flour, which is in contrast with previous studies describing the role of sourdough in lowering glycaemic response. Future studies will better elucidate the possible implication of consuming ancient wheat-based products on the modulation of post-prandial glucose metabolism.This study has been funded by Measure 16.1.01 of the Rural Development Programme 2014–2020 of the Emilia-Romagna Region (Italy).

scholarly journals Are Heteroptera communities able to be bioindicators of urban environments?

2020 ◽  
Vol 28 (2) ◽  
pp. 195-202
Author(s):  
O. M. Kunakh ◽  
I. O. Fedyay
Keyword(s):  
Environmental Factors ◽  
Large City ◽  
Ecological Factors ◽  
Urban Ecosystems ◽  
Urban Environments ◽  
Ecological Groups ◽  
Similar Character ◽  
High Level ◽  
The Impact ◽  
The City

The Heteroptera is a group of animals associated with the vegetation cover. The conducted analysis indicates that groups of heteropterans in the urban environment have a pattern of reaction to the environmental factors, determined using the phytoindication method. In the study, we considered the following hypotheses: 1) phytoindicational assessments of ecological factors may explain the patterns of variation of the groups of heteropterans; 2) among Heteroptera species, comparatively homogenous ecological groups could be distinguished which are characterized by similar character of response to the effect of certain environmental factors; 3) these groups could be used for bioindication of the conditions of environment in urban ecosystems. Stationary collection of heteropterans was performed during three years from May to October of 2017–2019 on six plots in Kharkiv. The article describes factors which affect the structure of groups of Heteroptera within the ecosystem of the large city and assess the bioindication possibilities. The data presented in the article, as well as the conclusions drawn, are to a large extent associated with stenotopic species, most of which could be used as bioindicators of the condition of one or another biocenosis. According to the results of a taxonomical survey in the territory of Kharkiv, 180 species of Heteroptera were found, belonging to 120 genera and 17 families. The highest species diversity was seen for the family Miridae, accounting for 50 species (27.0% of the total number of counted species). Fewer species were identified as the representatives of families Lygaeidae – 46 species (24.9%) and Pentatomidae – 23 (12.4%). Family Rhopalidae was represented by 11 species (5.9%). Nabidae and Tingidae – 10 species each (5.4%). Families Coreidae – 8 (4.3%), Cydnidae and Scutelleridae – 4 species each (2.2%), Anthocoridae – 3 (1.6%). The families Berytidae, Piesmatidae, Pyrrhocoridae and Reduviidae were represented by only 2 species each (1.1%). Families Acanthosomatidae, Alydidae and Aradidae were represented by 1 species each, in total accounting for 1.5%. The reasonably high level of species and ecological diversities of Heteroptera in the territory of the city allows them to be used in bioindication studies. We determined comparatively homogenous ecological groups of heteropterans which have a similar pattern of response to the impact of certain environmental factors. The study demonstrates that phytoindicatory assessments of the ecological factors can explain the patterns of variation in groups of heteropterans, We determined the factors which have effects on the structure of the group of heteropterans within the metropolitan ecosystem. The level of their effect on groups of heteropterans within the city is different. The most influential were light and humidity. Comparison of potential and realized projections of ecological space allows us, to a certain extent, to generate hypotheses about the orientations of transformation of the group heteropterans.

scholarly journals How Clouds are Amplifying (or not) the Effects of ALAN

2016 ◽  
Vol 18 ◽  
pp. 32-39 ◽  
Author(s):  
Salvador J Ribas ◽  
Jordi Torra ◽  
Sergi Paricio ◽  
Ramon Canal-Domingo
Keyword(s):  
Protected Areas ◽  
Protected Area ◽  
Light Pollution ◽  
Effect Data ◽  
Cloud Coverage ◽  
Sky Brightness ◽  
Night Sky ◽  
Meteorological Features ◽  
First Time ◽  
Night Sky Brightness

Light emitted or reflected up to the sky can interact with clouds or fog changing Night Sky Brightness (NSB). So the evaluation of NSB in any place can be affected by this meteorological features and needs to be analyzed. To evaluate this effect, data of NSB obtained with the Catalan Light Pollution Network (XCLCat) has been analyzed accurately and shows how the effect is completely different in urban and protected areas. The study, including for the first time independent cloud coverage data from ceilometer in combination with Sky Quality Meters (SQM), shows how in a city NSB increases dramatically and in a protected area the sky appears darker than in cloudless situation.

scholarly journals Cloud Coverage Acts as an Amplifier for Ecological Light Pollution in Urban Ecosystems

PLoS ONE ◽  
2011 ◽  
Vol 6 (3) ◽  
pp. e17307 ◽  
Author(s):  
Christopher C. M. Kyba ◽  
Thomas Ruhtz ◽  
Jürgen Fischer ◽  
Franz Hölker
Keyword(s):  
Urban Ecosystems ◽  
Light Pollution ◽  
Cloud Coverage

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

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

<p>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.</p><p>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:</p><p><strong>1. Development of new techniques for night sky radiometry and spectrometry</strong><br>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.</p><p><strong>2. Modeling of night sky patterns in national parks of Hungary</strong><br>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.</p><p><strong>3. Impact assessments of ALAN through measurements</strong><br>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 Bükk 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.</p><p><strong>4. Recommendations on future assessments and mitigations of</strong> <strong>light pollution</strong><br>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.</p><p><br><strong>Acknowledgement</strong><br>This project is supported by the European Union and co-financed by the<br>European Social Fund (Grant no. EFOP–3.6.2–16–201–00014: Development of<br>international research environment for light pollution studies)</p>

scholarly journals The Impact of Light Pollution on Amateur Astronomy and Public Awareness of the Night Sky

1991 ◽  
Vol 112 ◽  
pp. 109-109
Author(s):  
Geoffrey Chester
Keyword(s):  
Urban Areas ◽  
Public Awareness ◽  
Light Pollution ◽  
The Public ◽  
Artificial Illumination ◽  
Night Sky ◽  
Education Resource ◽  
The Impact

ABSTRACTWith the growing expansion of urban areas and their associated “domes” of artificial illumination, amateur astronomers have been forced to change many of their observing habits. This is reflected in the instruments today’s amateurs are using: highly portable telescopes of mostly commercial origin. Amateurs must travel further into the field to find dark skies, and this makes the hobby more discouraging. By discouraging the amateurs, an important education resource is lost to the public.

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