Author:
Kyba Christopher C. M.,Tong Kai Pong,Bennie Jonathan,Birriel Ignacio,Birriel Jennifer J.,Cool Andrew,Danielsen Arne,Davies Thomas W.,Outer Peter N. den,Edwards William,Ehlert Rainer,Falchi Fabio,Fischer Jürgen,Giacomelli Andrea,Giubbilini Francesco,Haaima Marty,Hesse Claudia,Heygster Georg,Hölker Franz,Inger Richard,Jensen Linsey J.,Kuechly Helga U.,Kuehn John,Langill Phil,Lolkema Dorien E.,Nagy Matthew,Nievas Miguel,Ochi Nobuaki,Popow Emil,Posch Thomas,Puschnig Johannes,Ruhtz Thomas,Schmidt Wim,Schwarz Robert,Schwope Axel,Spoelstra Henk,Tekatch Anthony,Trueblood Mark,Walker Constance E.,Weber Michael,Welch Douglas L.,Zamorano Jaime,Gaston Kevin J.
Abstract
Abstract
Despite constituting a widespread and significant environmental change, understanding of artificial nighttime skyglow is extremely limited. Until now, published monitoring studies have been local or regional in scope and typically of short duration. In this first major international compilation of monitoring data we answer several key questions about skyglow properties. Skyglow is observed to vary over four orders of magnitude, a range hundreds of times larger than was the case before artificial light. Nearly all of the study sites were polluted by artificial light. A non-linear relationship is observed between the sky brightness on clear and overcast nights, with a change in behavior near the rural to urban landuse transition. Overcast skies ranged from a third darker to almost 18 times brighter than clear. Clear sky radiances estimated by the World Atlas of Artificial Night Sky Brightness were found to be overestimated by ~25%; our dataset will play an important role in the calibration and ground truthing of future skyglow models. Most of the brightly lit sites darkened as the night progressed, typically by ~5% per hour. The great variation in skyglow radiance observed from site-to-site and with changing meteorological conditions underlines the need for a long-term international monitoring program.
Publisher
Springer Science and Business Media LLC
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