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The Dark Side of Progress: Understanding the Impacts of Light Pollution

31 Published by admin 05 22,2023

What is light pollution and why is it a problem?

Light pollution, also known as artificial light at night, refers to the excessive or improper use of artificial outdoor lighting. It can take several forms, including glare or overillumination, which is direct light from the fixture, sky glow or the brightening of the night sky, light trespass, which occurs when light hits areas not intended to be lit, and clutter, which occurs when lights are grouped in an excessive or confusing pattern. Light pollution is largely a result of poor design, where the light shines out or up in addition to its desired direction.

Light pollution is a problem because it disrupts the natural patterns of wildlife, contributes to the increase of carbon dioxide (CO2) in the atmosphere, disrupts human sleep, and obscures the stars in the night sky. It can also waste energy and increase costs for municipalities and individuals who have to pay for the electricity used to power the lights. In addition, it can create safety issues by reducing visibility and making it difficult for people to see potential hazards.

How does light pollution affect the environment?

Light pollution can have a number of negative impacts on the environment. One of the most well-known effects is the disruption it causes to the natural patterns of nocturnal wildlife. The excessive or improper use of artificial light can confuse animal navigation, alter competitive interactions, change predator-prey relations, and cause physiological harm. This can have a cascading effect on the ecological dynamics of an area, as the rhythm of life is orchestrated by the natural diurnal patterns of light and dark.

In addition, light pollution can also affect the quality of life for humans. It can disrupt sleep patterns, making it difficult for people to get a good night’s rest, which can have negative impacts on their physical and mental health. It can also create safety issues by reducing visibility and making it difficult for people to see potential hazards.

Light pollution can also have an impact on the environment by wasting energy and increasing costs for municipalities and individuals who have to pay for the electricity used to power the lights. In addition, it can contribute to the increase of carbon dioxide (CO2) in the atmosphere, which is a major contributor to climate change.

How does light pollution affect plants and animals?

Light pollution can have a number of negative impacts on plants and animals. One of the most well-known effects is the attraction of some organisms, such as moths, frogs, and sea turtles, to the artificial light sources. This can result in them being in the wrong place at the wrong time, making them more vulnerable to predation or exhaustion. Additionally, the artificial light can create a trap for these organisms, leading to their death.

On the other hand, artificial light can also repel some organisms, leading to habitat loss. This can occur when the light sources are too bright or are placed in areas where the animals would normally live, making it difficult or impossible for them to access the area. This can result in a loss of habitat and can have a negative impact on the organism’s ability to find food, mate, and survive.

Furthermore, the artificial light can disrupt the natural day/night patterns of many organisms, including humans. This can lead to a lack of sleep, which can have negative impacts on the body’s ability to repair itself. It can also affect the reproductive cycles of many organisms, making it difficult for them to mate or reproduce successfully.

For animals that are very site-specific, it may not be an option for them to move to a different area. They may be unable to find a suitable habitat or may not be able to navigate to a new location. For those that can move, the increasing amount of light pollution can make it harder for them to find areas that are dark enough for them to move to. This can result in a loss of habitat and can make it difficult for animals to survive.

Overall, light pollution is another form of habitat loss, and it can have a serious impact on the well-being of plants and animals.

What causes light pollution?

Light pollution is primarily caused by outdoor lights that emit light upwards or sideways. This includes streetlights, parking lot lights, and security lights, among others. Any light that escapes upward, except where a tree or building may be blocking it, will scatter throughout the atmosphere and brighten the night sky, thereby diminishing the view of the stars and other celestial objects. Air pollution particles can also increase the scattering of light at night, just as it impacts visibility in the daytime.

Light fixtures that direct all light downward, such as those with shields or that are designed with full cut-off, greatly reduce the amount of light pollution. These types of lights are often referred to as shielded lights or full cut-off lights. The light that is emitted from these types of fixtures tends to be directed downward, minimizing the amount of light that is scattered into the sky. Some light does reflect off the ground and scatter through the sky, but this has a smaller effect than light that shines directly upward.

Using a less powerful lamp or bulb can also help to reduce light pollution. These modern improvements in lighting not only greatly improve the quality of the night sky, but also have other benefits. These include better visibility, improved safety, less energy use, and better aesthetics. By using shielded lights and less powerful lamps, it is possible to reduce the amount of light pollution and help to protect the natural rhythm of light and dark that governs the lives of plants and animals.

How to reduce light pollution?

In general, there are several ways to reduce light pollution:

● Turn off lights when not in use: This can help to reduce the amount of light that is wasted and can help to save energy.

● Use fewer lights when inside: By using fewer lights when you are inside, you can reduce the amount of light that is emitted into the outside environment.

● Keep the blinds and drapes closed at night: This can help to prevent light from entering the room and being emitted into the outside environment.

● Avoid driving at night: If possible, try to avoid driving at night, as this can help to reduce the amount of light pollution that is created by vehicles.

● Turn off all lights when going to sleep: This can help to reduce the amount of light pollution that is emitted into the outside environment and can also help you to get a better night’s sleep.

● When going outside, point your lights towards the ground: By pointing your lights towards the ground, you can reduce the amount of light that is emitted into the sky.

● Use night shift settings on all devices: Many devices now have night shift settings that can adjust the color temperature of the light emitted to be less disruptive to your circadian rhythm.

● Let your eyes adjust to less light instead of turning on lights: When you enter a room, give your eyes a chance to adjust to the darkness before turning on a light.

● Unplug from devices as the sun sets: By unplugging from devices as the sun sets, you can reduce the amount of light pollution that is created by these devices.

● Use only downward facing lights inside when you can: By using only downward facing lights inside, you can reduce the amount of light that is emitted into the outside environment.

What does the night sky look like without light pollution?

Without light pollution, the night sky would be much darker, and the stars and other celestial objects would be much easier to see. The stars would appear much brighter and more numerous, and the Milky Way would be much more prominent. In areas with very little light pollution, it is possible to see the faintest stars and even some deep-sky objects, such as galaxies and nebulae. The contrast between the dark night sky and the stars would be much greater, making it easier to see details in the constellations. Overall, the night sky without light pollution would be a truly breathtaking sight, with a beauty that is difficult to describe.

What kind of light are used in stadium?

MECREE has launched the following series of LED Sport Stadium Lighting:

  1. SPL series stadium lights are designed for 160 feet to 1000 feet of lighting distances and 4K, 8K HD broadcasting.
  2. AFL series stadium lights are designed for lighting distances from 50 feet to 330 feet and improve the brightness uniformity.
  3. P73 series stadium lights are designed for the precise light control needs of the North American and European markets. The Upward Light Ratio of the P73 series LED stadium lights is 0%.

MECREE SPECIFICALLY DESIGNED PLC (PRECISE LIGHT CONTROL) TO MEET THE NEEDS OF SUCH USERS, POLARIZED LIGHT 73°DEFINED AS P73 SERIES PRODUCTS, P73 SERIES PRODUCTS TO BRING YOU AN UNPRECEDENTED VISUAL FEAST.

New LED Sports Lighting Solution Provider

PRECISE CONTROL OF LIGHT 1

-OPTICS 10X BETTER

P73

Our precisely engineered optics of polarized light aim light directly onto the field of play, to shine uniformly and to minimize glare. Outdoor venues benefit from spill light control, no more skyglow and no more complaints from the neighbors.

COMPETITORS

1. Such light shield is useless,just misleading customers.
2. As tested it will cause 30% reduction of light output
3. While 70% still have high overflow
4. Unbearable strong glare
5. Waste energy,outdated reflective technology

PRECISE CONTROL OF LIGHT 1

-OPTICS 10X BETTER

REMOTE DRIVER

The power supply and lamp body can be mounted separately, reducing the withstand weight of the lamp pole and facilitating maintenance.

CONVENIENT INSTALLATION 3

-EASY CROSSARM REPLACEMENT

Customized crossarms are available to meet all your existing old poles without replacing the main rod, crossarms bolt directly to light pole, easy and accurate installation saves time, ensures performance, safety and reliability,also lower the budget.

What can MECREE do for you?

We are not only a manufacturer of high-power LEDs, More professional services are also included:
Provide the most suitable solution through light simulation calculation. Design of Lighthouse, parameters required for building foundation, (axial force, shear force, bending force). High power generator set supporting,circuit design service,cable supply. We are your best supply chain manager! One stop service for you! Of course, lighting solutions for other fields are also included. Save you time,unnecessary costs and greater benefits.

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