LIGHT POLLUTION UNIVERSITY OF HONG KONG The function of all outdoor lighting is to enhance the visibility or the aesthetics in the night-time environment. The light should go to where it is needed. If not, it is spilled, causing light pollution. The National Park Service defined light pollution as any illumination of the night sky caused obtrusive artificial light, whereas the International Dark Sky Association refers light pollution to any adverse effect of artificial light including sky glow, glare, light trespass, light clutter, decreased visibility at night and energy wastage Besides light trespasses, a major form of light pollution is the glow extending over the night sky, usually called sky glow. Sky glow presents itself as a background luminance over the sky, against which the astronomical objects are to be observed. The interference of astronomical observations is caused by the resulting reduction of their luminance contrast. One of the earliest legislation regarding light pollution was the Lombardy Law, which was enacted in the Lombardy region of Italy after 25,000 citizens signed petitions demanding action against obtrusive outdoor lighting. In early 2002, the Czech Republic became the first country to introduce national legislation that includes measures for the control of light pollution. Known as the Protection of the Atmosphere Act, the law defines light pollution as every form of illumination by artificial light which is dispersed outside the areas it is dedicated to, particularly if directed above the level of the horizon. The Czech public is expected to employ full cut off luminaires that emit no light above the horizontal direction. K.F. Chan (Mr.) Page 1 of 22 Jan., 2010
Forms of light pollution Light pollution shows itself in several different ways: - 1. Direct light entering the premises - Usually this is called light intrusion or light trespass. Residents suffer most when the light invades their private life. This is also called light immission. In Hong Kong, there are increasing reports by the media and complaints received by the Environmental Protection Department about lives of people living in the immediate vicinity of neon signboard and poorly designed and installed floodlights they were annoyed by the excessive illumination. The Sporting Life by Patricia HUNT LD+A August 2005 The Sporting Life by Patricia HUNT LD+A August 2005 2. Sky glow this is the brightening of the night sky, or glow extending over the night sky. It presents itself as a background luminance over the sky, against which the astronomical objects are to be observed. Sky glow is the major obstruction for optical astronomy. Obtrusive light can come from light emitted by luminaires above the horizontal, but it can also come from light first K.F. Chan (Mr.) Page 2 of 22 Jan., 2010
emitted by luminaires downwards then reflected upwards by the surfaces, both intentionally or unintentionally, illuminated. 3. Horizon pollution. A major part of the light spilled by outdoor lighting is emitted more or less straight upward. This light is scattered in the atmosphere, and forms a haze over the light source. It is particularly conspicuous when the light stems from large, concentrated sources like city centers, airports, sports stadia, or industrial premises. From a distance, the scattered light looks like a light blob directly over the source, easily visible from a great distance up to 200 km or more. As the blob is the result of the light emitted almost vertically upwards and scattered in the atmosphere, it cannot be higher than the thickness of the atmosphere. If we take that as being about 8km, above which the atmospheric pressure and the amount of aerosols are too low to cause much scatter, the elevation of the top of the blob will be at 50 km distance about 9, and about 4.5 at 100 km. Because few astronomical observations are made at elevations smaller than some 15, the blob represents horizon pollution but it is no threat to astronomical observations. 4. Light clutter groups of strong light positioned together will cause confusion, distract the viewers from obstacles and potentially contribute to traffic accidents. This is particularly noticeable on roads where the street lights and signs are interfered by excessively lit advertising signboards. 5. Glare improperly positioned and designed road lights will distract and even blind drivers or pedestrians and may contribute to accidents. In astronomy direct light mainly refers to light shining directly into the telescope, thus causing glare. 6. Decreased visibility at night a major concern about light pollution is the decrease of number of stars visible in the night sky. 7. Energy wastage poorly designed lighting results in only a small portion of the lamp flux generated is directed to where it is intended with a major portion directed upwards. This not only causes light pollution but also wastes energy and indirectly increases air pollution and global warming because of the extra K.F. Chan (Mr.) Page 3 of 22 Jan., 2010
electricity consumption incurred. Conspicuity of point sources There are two further points that deserve some attention when discussing light pollution. The first is the visibility of point light sources, and more in particular the conspicuity of far-away lighting equipment. The second is what is sometimes called the flat-glass controversy. First the detection of point sources. The colloquial description of a point source is simply a source that is so small that no extension can be seen. Stars are point sources. However, the retinal image is not a point. As a result of diffraction, it measures about 0.002mm, corresponding to about 0.2 minute of arc. Many people, astronomers and naturalists alike, complain that distant luminaires are conspicuous and that they cause horizon pollution. This effect is most noticeable at a distance between some 3 and 10 km. At such distances, the direct light from the outdoor lighting luminaires is clearly visible and may cause considerable disturbance. K.F. Chan (Mr.) Page 4 of 22 Jan., 2010
CIE limits In 1997 CIE published a report on the different aspects of sky glow. The first general recommendation refers to zoning. The idea is that light pollution does not cause the same amount of disturbance at all places. More in particular, in brightly lit city centers or industrial estates, the requirements regarding the limits of sky glow can be lower than in a Natural Park or in a Protected Landscape. The British IES introduced in the 1990s a system of four zones. This system is adopted by and subsequently used by a number of national organizations. The zones are summarized in the below table. Zone Surroundings Lighting environment Examples E1 Natural Intrinsically dark National parks or protected sites E2 Rural Low district brightness Agricultural or residential rural areas E3 Suburban Medium district brightness Industrial or residential suburbs E4 Urban High district brightness Town centers and commercial areas Description of the environmental zones, adapted from CIE, 2003,table 2.1 The second general recommendation refers to the fact that light pollution does not cause the same amount of disturbance at all times. A major part of the social activities that did begin in the day will continue in the evening. Therefore the strict requirements concerning the limits of sky glow that can be imposed in the middle of the night cannot be used in the evening. For this, the term curfew is often used, while introducing the evening regime and the night regime. The moment when the evening regime ends and the night regime begins is mostly laid down in national or regional regulations. K.F. Chan (Mr.) Page 5 of 22 Jan., 2010
The third general recommendation refers to the upward light emission of outdoor lighting installations. It has been mentioned earlier that CIE introduced the Upward Light ratio ULR. This ratio refers only to individual luminaries. Being the ratio between the upward flux and the lamp flux it is a relative value only. However it does not give any information about what is the effect of a complete lighting installation. The fourth general recommendation refers to the colour of the light. It is generally accepted that to use the monochromatic light of low-pressure sodium lamps is one of the most effective ways to reduce light pollution as regards astronomical observations. The reason is that it is not too difficult to filter out the one sodium spectral line. Furthermore, they are the most efficient light sources available at present. K.F. Chan (Mr.) Page 6 of 22 Jan., 2010
Remedial measures a. Switching off the lights time control The most obvious solution to reduce light pollution is of course to switch off lights when they are not needed. However, this cannot be done in full as other equally important aspects of our social life require night-time activities and consequently artificial light at night. Nevertheless, a fair number of light sources can be switched off without any damage. Furthermore, in many cases light sources can be replaced by smaller sources emitting less light. An important way to improve the situation is to guarantee that most lights, particularly those that contribute most to light pollution like sports stadium lighting, are not used after a certain time. Many overseas laws and ordinances impose time restrictions in the use of such lighting installations. Modern electronic ballasts allow for a less drastic solution, as almost all gas-discharge lamps can be equipped with a dimmer. b. Limiting sky glow Basically there are two ways to avoid or at least to reduce the light pollution, more in particular the disturbance for astronomical observations : - avoid the light by switching and gated viewing, or - reduce the disturbance by light control and spectral selection. Gated viewing Electric lamps emit light essentially only when electric current is passed through them. This means that (on a 50 Hz grid) lamps are extinguished 100 times per second. This gives the possibility to apply the principle of gated viewing : the shutter of the photo apparatus at the telescope, or of its electronic equivalent, is opened 100 times a second, and only during the periods that the lamp does not emit light. In this way, the observer will not notice the presence of the light. However, gated viewing does not reduce the overall sky glow. The principle of gated viewing is not new. However, in public lighting it has not been put into practice at any considerable scale. The first aspect that must be taken into account is the lamp type. Clearly, it is essential that during the off period the lamp should emit no light for the method to have any appreciable effect. This automatically rules out incandescent lamps and all lamps that use fluorescence. Many types of gas-discharge lamps can be K.F. Chan (Mr.) Page 7 of 22 Jan., 2010
used, notably when they are equipped with dimmers that allow light emission only in a small part of the period of the alternating current. These dimmers are standard equipment, and can be used for most types of high-pressure sodium lamps. LEDs. More convenient are, of course, Light Emitting Diodes or A LED will emit light only when the voltage is appropriate. The main problem for the application of the gated viewing system is that is has not been tested on any large scale. It will cost some money, particularly in the first stages of design and construction; it is not feasible in large cities with existing elaborate outdoor lighting installations; it is not feasible in places where are large part of the outdoor lighting is privately owned; and finally, it does not reduce the overall sky glow. It seems, however, to be a very promising system for small villages, that until now have no electric lighting, and are near to major astronomical observatories. In this case, the financial burden is light, and it can easily be carried out by those agencies that promote clear, dark skies. Light control Light control means, in simple terms, preventing light being emitted above the horizon; more precisely, it means that the light is directed to the objects to be illuminated, downwards, ways include: K.F. Chan (Mr.) Page 8 of 22 Jan., 2010
a. Precise photometric control sharp cut off preventing spills and direct flux to only where it is needed. K.F. Chan (Mr.) Page 9 of 22 Jan., 2010
Bright gas station Staying in Bounds by Nancy Clanton and Randy Burkett, LD+A August 2005 Lower glare gas station Staying in Bounds by Nancy Clanton and Randy Burkett, LD+A August 2005 Low glare gas station Staying in Bounds by Nancy Clanton and Randy Burkett, LD+A August 2005 K.F. Chan (Mr.) Page 10 of 22 Jan., 2010
High glare parking lot Staying in Bounds by Nancy Clanton and Randy Burkett, LD+A August 2005 Good lighting in parking lot Staying in Bounds by Nancy Clanton and Randy Burkett, LD+A August 2005 K.F. Chan (Mr.) Page 11 of 22 Jan., 2010