Modelled impacts of a potential light emitting diode lighting system conversion and the influence of an extremely polluted atmosphere in Mexico City

Autor(en)
Hector Antonio Solano-Lamphar, Stefan Wallner, Miroslav Kocifaj
Abstrakt

Currently, many cities worldwide are changing current existing and mostly outdated lighting situation systems from inefficient lamps to light emitting diodes (LEDs). Providing the opportunity of energy savings, they can help in preventing influences to the night sky and furthermore issues for human health, wildlife and environment. This work simulates a potential LED conversion for the megacity of Mexico City and investigates impacts to conservation areas. Modelled for the whole visible spectrum, the analysis places special focus on the effects of applying various colour temperatures. Additionally, a highly polluted atmosphere was included as theoretical model, something applying to megacities in particular, to see impacts on skyglow of such an environmental contingency. In general, results show that the night sky brightness increases significantly with increasing colour temperature of LEDs if the lumen output is kept constant. It is shown that a potential conversion requires a thorough adjustment, otherwise negative impacts on environment and health might rise. Furthermore, an increased aerosol optical thickness ends in producing more diffuse light, identifying a major concern for the environment. The results obtained in this paper may be a strong motivation to ascertain measurements conducted in other large urban areas correlated to the computational results presented here.

Organisation(en)
Institut für Astrophysik
Externe Organisation(en)
The Center for Research in Geography and Geomatics Ing. Jorge L. Tamayo (CentroGeo), Slovak Academy of Sciences (SAS), Univerzita Komenského v Bratislave
Journal
Environment and Planning B: Urban Analytics and City Science
Band
49
Seiten
501-518
Anzahl der Seiten
18
DOI
https://doi.org/10.1177/23998083211012702
Publikationsdatum
02-2022
Peer-reviewed
Ja
ÖFOS 2012
103003 Astronomie, 103004 Astrophysik, 105904 Umweltforschung
Schlagwörter
ASJC Scopus Sachgebiete
Geography, Planning and Development, Nature and Landscape Conservation, Management, Monitoring, Policy and Law, Urban Studies, Architecture
Sustainable Development Goals
SDG 3 – Gesundheit und Wohlergehen
Link zum Portal
https://ucrisportal.univie.ac.at/de/publications/49b66728-c540-4599-b7be-114f294719ec