Light pollution rises on a global scale

Washington: The world is getting brighter, but scientists say that may not be a good thing. Researchers said on Wednesday satellite data showed that Earth’s artificially lit outdoor surface at night grew by about 2% annually in brightness and area from 2012 to 2016, underscoring concerns about the ecological effects of light pollution on people and animals. The researchers said the US National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration weather satellite data may understate the situation because its sensor cannot detect some of the LED lighting that is becoming more widespread, specifically blue light. These included some of the world’s brightest such as Italy, Netherlands, Spain and the United States, although the researchers said the satellite sensor’s “blindness” to some LED light may mask an actual increase. Ecologist Franz Hölker of Germany’s Leibniz-Institute for Freshwater Ecology and Inland Fisheries said light pollution has ecological consequences, with natural light cycles disrupted by artificial light introduced into the nighttime environment.