Causes
What is the main cause of light pollution today?
What is Industrialization
How does it affect animals?
Animals mistake light pollution for the sun, and therefore can be mislead, and make prey vulnerable
What is the least light polluted location on Earth?
The Roque de los Muchachos Observatory, which is located in the Canary Islands, was officially named the darkest place on Earth in 2016
What is one-way everyday people can help reduce light pollution?
They can use light timers/motion sensors
What is light pollution?
Light pollution is the human-made alteration of outdoor light levels from those occurring naturally
What historical event allowed light pollution to be possible?
What is Thomas Edison's invention of the electric light bulb
How does it affect humans?
It reduces melatonin production in the brain, which causes many problems
What locations in the U.S. have the worst light pollution?
New York City, Philadelphia, Boston, Rochester, Pittsburgh, Chicago, Atlanta, Tampa, Miami, Dallas, Austin, Houston, Denver, San Francisco, and Los Angeles
How can people encourage their communities to reduce light pollution?
It is as simple as encouraging community members, texting your group, or handing out flyers
Why does light pollution impact animals (including humans)?
Every animal has evolved to the rhythm of day and night, and light pollution throws that rhythm off
What are some of the most common sources of outdoor light pollution?
What are Street lamps, parking lot/shopping mall lights, exterior lights found on most homes/businesses, neon signs and illuminated signboards
How does it affect the ecosystem?
It alters competitive interactions, changes predator-prey relations, and causes psychological harm.
How many states in the U.S. have laws to reduce light pollution?
At least 19 states
What have entire countries done to help with light pollution?
The District of Columbia and Puerto Rico have laws in place to reduce light pollution, and in the U.S, Many states have adopted legislation to control outdoor lighting
What percent of humans currently live under sky glow?
More than 80 percent of the world’s population, and 99 percent of Americans and Europeans
What light from a light source is unnecessary?
What is outdoor light that emits light upwards or sideways
How does light pollution affect the economy?
Light pollution can waste a lot of money from using unnecessary light
What regions have no light pollution at all?
Only the most remote regions on Earth -Siberia, the Sahara, and the Amazon- are in total darkness
What is the National Park service doing about light pollution?
Their teams have been monitoring the night sky and making light pollution reduction a priority
At what rate is light pollution getting worse?
light pollution is growing at 9.6% per year – doubling in less than eight years
What are the 3 main types of light pollution?
glare, skyglow, and light trespass
How does light pollution affect scientific research?
With a growing amount of light pollution in our world, it is becoming harder to get a clear view of the universe for science from earth
What countries have the most light pollution?
The most light-polluted countries in the world are Singapore, Qatar, and Kuwait
What is the primary organization working to reverse the affects of light pollution?
What is DarkSky
How cheap is it to reduce light pollution in your home?
Light timers can cost as little as 7 dollars each, and motion sensitive lights cost as little as $10