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Author |
Puschnig, J.; Schwope, A.; Posch, T.; Schwarz, R. |
Title |
The night sky brightness at Potsdam-Babelsberg including overcast and moonlit conditions |
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Journal Article |
Year |
2014 |
Publication |
Journal of Quantitative Spectroscopy and Radiative Transfer |
Abbreviated Journal |
Journal of Quantitative Spectroscopy and Radiative Transfer |
Volume |
139 |
Issue |
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Pages |
76-81 |
Keywords |
Atmospheric effects; Site testing; Light pollution; Techniques: photometric |
Abstract |
We analyze the results of 2 years (2011â2012) of night sky photometry performed at the Leibniz Institute for Astrophysics in Potsdam-Babelsberg. This institute is located 23 km to the southwest of the center of Berlin. Our measurements have been performed with a Sky Quality Meter. We find night sky brightness values ranging from 16.5 to 20.3 magSQM arcsec−2; the latter value corresponds to 4.8 times the natural zenithal night sky brightness. We focus on the influence of clouds and of the moon on the night sky brightness. It turns out that Potsdam-Babelsberg, despite its proximity to Berlin, still shows a significant correlation of the night sky brightness with the lunar phases. However, the light-pollution-enhancing effect of clouds dominates the night sky brightness by far: overcast nights (up to 16.5 magSQM arcsec−2) are much brighter than clear full moon nights (18â18.5 magSQM arcsec−2). |
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0022-4073 |
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IDA @ john @ |
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184 |
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Author |
Spoelstra, H. |
Title |
New device for monitoring the colors of the night |
Type |
Journal Article |
Year |
2014 |
Publication |
Journal of Quantitative Spectroscopy and Radiative Transfer |
Abbreviated Journal |
Journal of Quantitative Spectroscopy and Radiative Transfer |
Volume |
139 |
Issue |
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Pages |
82-89 |
Keywords |
Light pollution; Night sky spectrum; Filters; Monitoring |
Abstract |
The introduction of LED lighting in the outdoor environment may increase the amount of blue light in the night sky color spectrum. This can cause more light pollution due to Rayleigh scattering of the shorter wavelengths. Blue light may also have an impact on circadian rhythm of humans due to the suppression of melatonin. At present no long-term data sets of the color spectrum of the night sky are available. In order to facilitate the monitoring of levels and variations in the night sky spectrum, a low cost multi-filter instrument has been developed. Design considerations are described as well as the choice of suitable filters, which are critical â especially in the green wavelength band from 500 to 600 nm. Filters from the optical industry were chosen for this band because available astronomical filters exclude some or all of the low and high-pressure sodium lines from lamps, which are important in light pollution research. Correction factors are calculated to correct for the detector response and filter transmissions. Results at a suburban monitoring station showed that the light levels between 500 and 600 nm are dominant during clear and cloudy skies. The relative contribution of blue light increases with a clear moonless night sky. The change in color spectrum of the night sky under moonlit skies is more complex and is still under study. |
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0022-4073 |
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IDA @ john @ |
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185 |
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Pun, C.S.J.; So, C.W.; Leung, W.Y.; Wong, C.F. |
Title |
Contributions of artificial lighting sources on light pollution in Hong Kong measured through a night sky brightness monitoring network |
Type |
Journal Article |
Year |
2014 |
Publication |
Journal of Quantitative Spectroscopy and Radiative Transfer |
Abbreviated Journal |
Journal of Quantitative Spectroscopy and Radiative Transfer |
Volume |
139 |
Issue |
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Pages |
90-108 |
Keywords |
Light pollution; Night sky brightness; Skyglow; Moon radiation; Urban lighting; Hong Kong |
Abstract |
Light pollution is a form of environmental degradation in which excessive artificial outdoor lighting, such as street lamps, neon signs, and illuminated signboards, affects the natural environment and the ecosystem. Poorly designed outdoor lighting not only wastes energy, money, and valuable Earth resources, but also robs us of our beautiful night sky. Effects of light pollution on the night sky can be evaluated by the skyglow caused by these artificial lighting sources, through measurements of the night sky brightness (NSB). The Hong Kong Night Sky Brightness Monitoring Network (NSN) was established to monitor in detail the conditions of light pollution in Hong Kong. Monitoring stations were set up throughout the city covering a wide range of urban and rural settings to continuously measure the variations of the NSB. Over 4.6 million night sky measurements were collected from 18 distinct locations between May 2010 and March 2013. This huge dataset, over two thousand times larger than our previous survey [1], forms the backbone for studies of the temporal and geographical variations of this environmental parameter and its correlation with various natural and artificial factors. The concepts and methodology of the NSN were presented here, together with an analysis of the overall night sky conditions in Hong Kong. The average NSB in Hong Kong, excluding data affected by the Moon, was 16.8 mag arcsec−2, or 82 times brighter than the dark site standard established by the International Astronomical Union (IAU) [2]. The urban night sky was on average 15 times brighter than that in a rural location, firmly establishing the effects of artificial lighting sources on the night sky. |
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0022-4073 |
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IDA @ john @ |
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186 |
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Author |
Sánchez de Miguel, A.; Zamorano, J.; Gómez Castaño, J.; Pascual, S. |
Title |
Evolution of the energy consumed by street lighting in Spain estimated with DMSP-OLS data |
Type |
Journal Article |
Year |
2014 |
Publication |
Journal of Quantitative Spectroscopy and Radiative Transfer |
Abbreviated Journal |
Journal of Quantitative Spectroscopy and Radiative Transfer |
Volume |
139 |
Issue |
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Pages |
109-117 |
Keywords |
Light pollution; Power consumption; Remote sensing; Light pollution models; Spain |
Abstract |
We present the results of the analysis of satellite imagery to study light pollution in Spain. Both calibrated and non-calibrated DMSP-OLS images were used. We describe the method to scale the non-calibrated DMSP-OLS images which allows us to use differential photometry techniques in order to study the evolution of the light pollution. Population data and DMSP-OLS satellite calibrated images for the year 2006 were compared to test the reliability of official statistics in public lighting consumption. We found a relationship between the population and the energy consumption which is valid for several regions. Finally the true evolution of the electricity consumption for street lighting in Spain from 1992 to 2010 was derived; it has been doubled in the last 18 years in most of the provinces. |
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IDA @ john @ |
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187 |
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Kuechly, H.U.; Kyba, C.C.M.; Ruhtz, T.; Lindemann, C.; Wolter, C.; Fischer, J.; Hölker, F. |
Title |
Aerial survey and spatial analysis of sources of light pollution in Berlin, Germany |
Type |
Journal Article |
Year |
2012 |
Publication |
Remote Sensing of Environment |
Abbreviated Journal |
Remote Sensing of Environment |
Volume |
126 |
Issue |
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Pages |
39-50 |
Keywords |
Light pollution; Artificial lighting; Urban analysis; Remote sensing; GIS; Darkness; Spatial analysis; Light at night |
Abstract |
Aerial observations of light pollution can fill an important gap between ground based surveys and nighttime satellite data. Terrestrially bound surveys are labor intensive and are generally limited to a small spatial extent, and while existing satellite data cover the whole world, they are limited to coarse resolution. This paper describes the production of a high resolution (1 m) mosaic image of the city of Berlin, Germany at night. The dataset is spatially analyzed to identify the major sources of light pollution in the city based on urban land use data. An area-independent ‘brightness factor’ is introduced that allows direct comparison of the light emission from differently sized land use classes, and the percentage area with values above average brightness is calculated for each class. Using this methodology, lighting associated with streets has been found to be the dominant source of zenith directed light pollution (31.6%), although other land use classes have much higher average brightness. These results are compared with other urban light pollution quantification studies. The minimum resolution required for an analysis of this type is found to be near 10 m. Future applications of high resolution datasets such as this one could include: studies of the efficacy of light pollution mitigation measures, improved light pollution simulations, economic and energy use, the relationship between artificial light and ecological parameters (e.g. circadian rhythm, fitness, mate selection, species distributions, migration barriers and seasonal behavior), or the management of nightscapes. To encourage further scientific inquiry, the mosaic data is freely available at Pangaea: http://dx.doi.org/10.1594/PANGAEA.785492. |
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Freie Universität Berlin, Department of Earth Sciences, Institute for Space Sciences, Carl-Heinrich-Becker-Weg 6‐10, 12165 Berlin, Germany |
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0034-4257 |
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IDA @ john @ |
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188 |
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