You can not remember when you last saw a firefly in your area. If you live in a rural area it will be a very regular sight in summer evenings except in urban areas where it is rare. Less than 100 years ago starry night sky was a very spectacular event. Experiencing the Milky Way in the night sky can not be possible today in cities.
The reason behind this is Light Pollution. Air, water, and land pollution are very common but light can also be a pollutant and man-made pollution. Widespread use of artificial light at night is adversely affecting our environment causing adverse consequences to humans, wildlife and our climate. Kundan International School, one of the best international schools in Chandigarh teach children to be aware of our natural environment and integrate the same into the curriculum.
- The Cause
The industrial civilization is also the main factor where it includes building lighting exterior and interior, advertising, commercial properties, offices, factories, street lights and over-illuminated sporting venues. Outdoor lighting is extra illuminated, poorly targeted, and improperly shielded. It is wasteful.
- The Effect
The circadian rhythm of the biological system is disturbed by night illumination. Light pollution can confuse animal navigation, alter competitive interactions, change predator-prey relations, and cause physiological harm. The rhythm of life is orchestrated by the natural diurnal pattern of light and dark. So, disruption to these patterns has an adverse impact on the ecological dynamics.
- Control Measures
- There are several control measures applying which we can reduce and control light pollution.
- Adjusting the type of lights used, so that the light waves emitted are those that are less likely to cause severe light pollution problems.
- In the case of streetlights, introducing more smart LED lights instead of low-pressure sodium gas bulbs (LPS/SOX), high-pressure sodium bulbs (HPS/SON), metal halide, and incandescent.
- It should be remembered that mercury, metal halide and above all first generation of blue-light LED road luminaires are much more polluting than sodium lamps. So, proper selection is needed.
- Light pollution can be reduced by turning off unneeded outdoor lights, and only lighting stadiums when there are people inside.
- Unnecessary lights should be moved from houses, factories, and streets as soon as possible.
- Introducing timers in case of streetlights to reduce light pollution and energy consumption.
- Evaluating existing lighting plans, and re-designing some or all of the plans depending on whether existing light is actually needed.
- Automated or smart lighting should be introduced as pilot projects in urban areas.
- Improving lighting fixtures, so that they direct their light more accurately towards where it is needed, and with fewer side effects.
- Replacement of drop-lens cobra luminaries by flat-lens cobra luminaries as drop-lens cobra luminaries allows light to escape sideways and upwards, where it may cause problems.
These are some of the control measures we can use to restore the balance in nature, reduce pollution, save energy and help build a more sustainable ecosystem as suggested by Kundan international school, the Best international school in Chandigarh.
Priyanka Rana
PGT Biology Teacher