Light Pollution

Synonyms

Glare; Sky glow; Unwanted light especially referring to unwanted electric lighting at night

Definition

Outdoor electric lighting at night which is unwanted, unneeded, or wasteful and which results in glare, light trespass and sky glow or other harmful effects on people and the environment.

Light Pollution Recognized

Electric lighting makes travel, working, playing, and other normal living activities possible at night. Indeed, the view of a lighted city from an airplane window or tall building is a hallmark of twenty-first-century civilization, yet little more than a century and a half ago, there were no such views and human activities outdoors at night were limited to those considered essential. Even then, they were carried out only with difficulty especially tasks involving work or travel. Limitations remained as candles and then gas flames and mantles began to generate more powerful and reliable night lighting, but the benefits were not widespread because of the relatively...