Records |
Author  |
Ciocca, M.; Wang, J. |
Title |
By the light of the silvery Moon: fact and fiction |
Type |
Journal Article |
Year |
2013 |
Publication |
Physics Education |
Abbreviated Journal |
Phys. Educ. |
Volume |
48 |
Issue |
3 |
Pages |
360-367 |
Keywords |
Vision; moonlight; Purkinje effect; Purkinje shift; mesopic |
Abstract |
Is moonlight 'silver' or 'cold'? In this paper we discuss the interesting combination of factors that contribute to the common descriptions of moonlight. Sunlight is reflected from the lunar surface and red-shifted. When traversing the atmosphere, moonlight is further depleted of short wavelength content by Rayleigh scattering. We measured the spectra of the moonlight to show these effects and compared them with sunlight. All measurements, including spectral reflectance, suggest that moonlight is redder than sunlight. The silvery Moon is just an illusion due to the properties and behaviour of our own eyes, including the responses of rods and cones and the physiological perceptive phenomenon called Purkinje shift. |
Address |
Eastern Kentucky University, Richmond, KY, USA E-mail: marco.ciocca(at)eku.edu |
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Publisher |
IOP |
Place of Publication |
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Editor |
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Language |
English |
Summary Language |
English |
Original Title |
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Series Title |
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Series Volume |
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Series Issue |
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Edition |
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ISSN |
0031-9120 |
ISBN |
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Notes |
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no |
Call Number |
IDA @ john @ |
Serial |
2227 |
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Author  |
Clark, G.F.; Stark, J.S.; Johnston, E.L.; Runcie, J.W.; Goldsworthy, P.M.; Raymond, B.; Riddle, M.J. |
Title |
Light-driven tipping points in polar ecosystems |
Type |
Journal Article |
Year |
2013 |
Publication |
Global Change Biology |
Abbreviated Journal |
Glob Chang Biol |
Volume |
19 |
Issue |
12 |
Pages |
3749-3761 |
Keywords |
Ecology; benthic; biodiversity; irradiance; macroalgae; marine ecology; polar; regime shift |
Abstract |
Some ecosystems can undergo abrupt transformation in response to relatively small environmental change. Identifying imminent 'tipping points' is crucial for biodiversity conservation, particularly in the face of climate change. Here, we describe a tipping point mechanism likely to induce widespread regime shifts in polar ecosystems. Seasonal snow and ice-cover periodically block sunlight reaching polar ecosystems, but the effect of this on annual light depends critically on the timing of cover within the annual solar cycle. At high latitudes, sunlight is strongly seasonal, and ice-free days around the summer solstice receive orders of magnitude more light than those in winter. Early melt that brings the date of ice-loss closer to midsummer will cause an exponential increase in the amount of sunlight reaching some ecosystems per year. This is likely to drive ecological tipping points in which primary producers (plants and algae) flourish and out-compete dark-adapted communities. We demonstrate this principle on Antarctic shallow seabed ecosystems, which our data suggest are sensitive to small changes in the timing of sea-ice loss. Algae respond to light thresholds that are easily exceeded by a slight reduction in sea-ice duration. Earlier sea-ice loss is likely to cause extensive regime shifts in which endemic shallow-water invertebrate communities are replaced by algae, reducing coastal biodiversity and fundamentally changing ecosystem functioning. Modeling shows that recent changes in ice and snow cover have already transformed annual light budgets in large areas of the Arctic and Antarctic, and both aquatic and terrestrial ecosystems are likely to experience further significant change in light. The interaction between ice-loss and solar irradiance renders polar ecosystems acutely vulnerable to abrupt ecosystem change, as light-driven tipping points are readily breached by relatively slight shifts in the timing of snow and ice-loss. |
Address |
School of Biological, Earth and Environmental Science, University of New South Wales, Sydney, NSW, 2052, Australia |
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English |
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Original Title |
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Series Volume |
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Series Issue |
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Edition |
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ISSN |
1354-1013 |
ISBN |
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Notes |
PMID:23893603 |
Approved |
no |
Call Number |
LoNNe @ kagoburian @ |
Serial |
850 |
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Author  |
Collison, F.M.; Poe, K. |
Title |
“Astronomical Tourism”: The Astronomy and Dark Sky Program at Bryce Canyon National Park |
Type |
Journal Article |
Year |
2013 |
Publication |
Tourism Management Perspectives |
Abbreviated Journal |
Tourism Management Perspectives |
Volume |
7 |
Issue |
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Pages |
1-15 |
Keywords |
Astronomy-related tourism; National parks; Night sky darkness; astrotourism; dark skies |
Abstract |
Astronomical tourism represents a less-studied segment of sustainable tourism, where a dark night sky is the underlying resource. This article evaluates an astronomical tourism program, in this case at a national park with dark skies for observing. Bryce Canyon National Park (BCNP) in the southwestern United States has a well-developed astronomy program to serve visitors. The program consists of solar viewing during the day, multimedia evening programs, and night-time star gazing with telescopes. Depending on the specific measure used, it appears that up to 10% of park visitors may be involved with the formal Astronomy and Dark Sky Program and/or more informal astronomy activities. BCNP appears well positioned to take advantage of the dark sky attributes of the park and to educate visitors about the importance of maintaining and/or increasing the darkness of night skies. Potential future developments in the program may serve to further increase the number of visitors to BCNP. |
Address |
School of Travel Industry Management, 1901 Ruby Lane, Liberty, MO 64068; collison(at)hawaii.edu |
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Series Volume |
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Series Issue |
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Edition |
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ISSN |
2211-9736 |
ISBN |
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no |
Call Number |
IDA @ john @ |
Serial |
128 |
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Author  |
Conci, A. |
Title |
SQM-PI:helping asronomers to measure light pollution |
Type |
Book Whole |
Year |
2013 |
Publication |
Universita Trento |
Abbreviated Journal |
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Volume |
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Issue |
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Pages |
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Keywords |
Remote Sensing |
Abstract |
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Address |
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Thesis |
Master's thesis |
Publisher |
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no |
Call Number |
LoNNe @ kagoburian @ |
Serial |
917 |
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Author  |
Czeisler, C.A. |
Title |
Perspective: casting light on sleep deficiency |
Type |
Journal Article |
Year |
2013 |
Publication |
Nature |
Abbreviated Journal |
Nature |
Volume |
497 |
Issue |
7450 |
Pages |
S13 |
Keywords |
Human Health; Circadian Rhythm/physiology/radiation effects; Electricity/adverse effects; Humans; Jet Lag Syndrome/etiology/physiopathology/therapy; Lighting/*adverse effects; Melatonin/metabolism/secretion; Phototherapy; Sleep Deprivation/epidemiology/*etiology/*physiopathology/therapy; Suprachiasmatic Nucleus/physiology/radiation effects |
Abstract |
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Address |
Division of Sleep Medicine, Harvard Medical School, and Division of Sleep Medicine, Department of Medicine, Brigham and Women's Hospital, in Boston, Massachusetts, USA. charles_czeisler@hms.harvard.edu |
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English |
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Series Editor |
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Series Title |
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Series Volume |
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Series Issue |
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Edition |
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ISSN |
0028-0836 |
ISBN |
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Notes |
PMID:23698501 |
Approved |
no |
Call Number |
LoNNe @ christopher.kyba @ |
Serial |
499 |
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