NASA’s new maps, created using nearly a decade of data from the “Black Marble” program, reveal how artificial light usage has changed globally. By analyzing data from three satellites between 2014 and 2022, researchers found complex patterns of light radiance rather than a simple increase. The study, published in Nature, shows that while radiance increased by 34%, dimming offset it by 18%, highlighting intensified lighting and dimming over the past decade. This volatility in nighttime activity offers insights into urban evolution, energy transitions, and ecological impacts. In the U.S., West Coast cities brightened with population growth, while the East Coast dimmed due to energy-efficient lighting and economic changes. Globally, nights brightened in China and northern India due to urban development, while Europe saw dimming from energy conservation and a sharp decline in 2022 following the Ukraine war’s energy crisis. The study underscores that the human light footprint is a dynamic system of brightening and dimming.
QUESTION: How might the changing patterns of artificial light at night impact the environment and wildlife in the future?
NASA maps show Earth’s brightest and darkest regions at night
