Temporal analysis of light pollution levels of cities of the world

Keywords: light pollution, VIIRS, nighttime satellite imagery, population, Spatio-temporal analysis
Abstract Type: Poster Abstract

Abstract

The New World Atlas of Artificial Night Sky Brightness provides a global spatially explicit map of light pollution. This study uses the raw Visible Infrared Imaging Radiometer Suite (VIIRS) data which is made by the Earth Observation Group. The data consist of monthly average radiance grids in which the single data range (DR) threshold is used to distinguish lit grid cells from the background for every 15-arc second grid cell. The Global Human Settlement Layer provides a variety of spatially explicit information about the world’s cities, towns, and smaller human settlements. This study uses both the VIIRS and GHS datasets to provide an average light pollution number for each urban area of the world with a population greater than 1 million. Light pollution is increasingly recognized as a source of negative human health impacts as well as negative impacts on ecosystem function. Many astronomers are enjoying the fact that there is a growing coalition of diverse interests advocating for reduced light pollution. This map of urban light pollution will help identify the extent and variability of light pollution in urban areas throughout the world. The study also incorporates temporal analysis of light pollution which can assess the effectiveness of lighting ordinances and other light pollution policies throughout the world’s cities.