Aerosol impact on light pollution in cities and their environment
- Author(s)
- Stefan Wallner, Miroslav Kocifaj
- Abstract
Measurements of artificial light at night represent an incredible challenge as the optical state of the atmosphere is highly unstable thus making both long-term trend analyses and inter-comparison of multiple observations difficult. Variations of atmospheric parameters, caused by either natural or anthropogenic processes, can massively influence the level of resulting night sky brightness caused by light pollution. Focusing on six parameters, either from aerosol optics or emission properties of light sources, this work literarily and numerically examines defined variations in aerosol optical depth, asymmetry parameter, single scattering albedo, ground surface reflectance, direct uplight ratio, and aerosol scale height. For each individual element the effect size and angular reliance is investigated, with results indicating that besides the aerosol scale height all play non-negligible roles in forming skyglow and environmental impact. Especially variations in aerosol optical depth and city emission function displayed severe discrepancies in consequential light pollution level. Hence, future improvement on atmospheric condition, i.e., air quality, focusing particularly on discussed elements indicates to positively influence the level of environmental impact caused by artificial light at night. We underline the need of inclusion of our outcomes to urban development and civil engineering processes in order to create or protect habitable areas for humans, wildlife and nature.
- Organisation(s)
- Department of Astrophysics
- External organisation(s)
- Slovak Academy of Sciences (SAS), Comenius University Bratislava
- Journal
- Journal of Environmental Management
- Volume
- 335
- ISSN
- 0301-4797
- DOI
- https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jenvman.2023.117534
- Publication date
- 06-2023
- Peer reviewed
- Yes
- Austrian Fields of Science 2012
- 103003 Astronomy, 103004 Astrophysics, 502041 Environmental management, 105906 Environmental geosciences
- Keywords
- ASJC Scopus subject areas
- Waste Management and Disposal, Management, Monitoring, Policy and Law, Environmental Engineering
- Sustainable Development Goals
- SDG 11 - Sustainable Cities and Communities
- Portal url
- https://ucrisportal.univie.ac.at/en/publications/a531713b-a404-4095-ac7a-9bc01e0511df