Post on 14-Jan-2016
Taken by Ed Lu (UH - IFA)
Astronaut on ISS for 6 months -2003
Light Pollution – Hawai’ian Islands 2003
Quantifying Light Pollution Worldwide
Defense Meteorological Satellite Program (DMSP) USAF
Satellite and ground based observations.
P. Cinzano, F. Falchi, C. D. Elvidge
U of Padova Dept of Astronomy
66% of the US population and 20% of the world’s population can no longer see the Milky way.
99% of the population in the lower 48 and the EU live in areas where the night sky is above threshold set for polluted status.
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Light PollutionLight Pollution
Outdoor lighting currently stands as one of the most inefficient uses of energy today.
30 to 50% of all light pollution is produced by roadway lighting that shines wasted light upwards and outwards.
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Light Pollution
Glare
Light trespass
Sky glow
Energy waste
Clutter
Toronto 2003 – Sky Glow & Glare
During Blackout After Blackout
Skyglow
Honolulu, HICan it be fixed? Yes.How? With ordinances & one light at a time.
Courtesy M Donohue
Sky glow over Haleakala.
Note Hnl lights in NW& darkness in SE
Ranks as 5th
best observatory in the world
The Cost of The Cost of Throwing Away ElectricityThrowing Away Electricity
The USA spends over $2 billion per year in energy costs from wasted light at night.
Waste:
= 6 million tons of coal or
= 23 million barrels of oil per year
Greenhouse gasses produced add to global warming.
55% from coal
22% from nuclear
10% from natural gas
10% from hydropower
2% from oil (Hawai’i 90%)
1% from other sources
US Power Sources
Newly found circadianPhotoreceptors in RGC
Pineal GlandMakes melatonin fromserotonin and tryptophan
Melatonin production respondsto light-dark cycle
Light & Human health Circadian rhythmsMelatonin and the pineal glandNewly discovered RGC’s (Berson-2002)
Blue light sensitive 464 – 480 nmTrigger SCN – clock center – non visual
Rat studies (Blask – Basset Research Center, Cooperstown, NY)LAN reduces mlt. and increases growth rates of human
breast cancer cells implanted in ratsDarkness at night – high mlt.; low cancer growth rates
Human studies (Blask – 2004)Blood from humans exposed to LAN – low mlt; high cancer cell growthBlood from humans exposed to darkness – high mlt; low ca growth
Epidemiology – cancers in shift workers (Harvard nurses health study)(Stevens, Schernhammer)
Higher rates of breast and colorectal cancers in shift workers
Paper summarizingcurrent literature linking LAN to breastand colorectal cancer.
Medical HypothesesOct. 2004
Effects of Artificial Light at Night on Ecosystems (photopollution)
Paper summarizingcurrent literature linking LAN to breastand colorectal cancer.
Medical HypothesesOct. 2004
Lighting and CrimeLighting and Crime
Most crimes take place during the day
Two congressional crime task forces (1979 & 1997) found no relationship between lighting and crime. The studies that say there is a relationship are not controlled studies
“There are simply no good scientific studies that convincingly show the relationship between lighting and crime.” - (Ref - IDA information sheet 42; 4/98)
In defense of low pressure sodium lights on MauiGood for astronomersGood for human health – no mlt. SuppressionGood for ecosystems
Good FCO Lighting In All Places
Recessed canopy lights
15 50watt hpslamps 10 ft high,4000 lumens each,21 ft apart.
60,000 lumens oflight surrounding thebldg.
Overkill
Good FCO Lights
Opaque cover diffuseslight better
Everybody Wins With Everybody Wins With Good LightingGood Lighting
Less glare, light trespass & sky glow
Restores dark skies for stargazing
Good for human health & ecosystems
Prevents the pervasive spread of light pollution
Preserves the night skies for our children
Everybody Wins With Everybody Wins With
Good LightingGood Lighting
• Important to human health to sleep in darkness.
• Important to health of ecosystems to minimize exposure of plants and animals to light at night.
Light pollution is the easiest kind of pollution to fix.
Reduce it, shield It, & shine it down.
Light the subject & hide the source.
Follow IESNA rec. levels.
Use IESNA mins as maximums when can.
Design for low impact lighting.