Context:

A recent study by Cornell University, United States, warns ‘Artificial Light Pollution’ affects Coastal Marine Ecosystems.

More On News:

• It also advocates for expanding our perspective to encompass the impact of light pollution on coastal marine ecosystems.

Light Pollution: Light pollution, or artificial light at night, is the excessive or poor use of artificial outdoor light, and it has several forms: 

• Glare or over illumination, which is direct light from the fixture.
• Sky glow or the human-created brightening of the night sky.
• Light trespass that occurs when light hits areas not intended to be lit.
• Clutter, which occurs when lights are grouped in an excessive or confusing pattern.

Impact Of Light Pollution:

Marine Organisms:

• Marine species that evolved to natural light cycles now face interference in hormonal cycles, behavior, and reproduction.
• For Example: Artificial light impacts sea turtles significantly.
  • Female sea turtles struggle to find dark nesting spots due to artificial light, affecting egg-laying.
  • Hatchlings are disoriented by inland lights instead of moonlight, leading to dehydration and starvation.

Wild Life:

• Artificial light can wreak havoc on natural body rhythms animals.
• It is also impacting animal behaviors, such as migration patterns, wake-sleep habits, and habitat formation.
  • For example: Birds guided by moonlight during migration get confused, lose their way, and often die.
  • Large numbers of insects (main food source of birds) are drawn to artificial lights and are instantly killed upon contact with light sources that affect the food chain.

Humans:

• Nocturnal light interrupts sleep and confuses the circadian rhythm—the internal, twenty-four-hour clock that guides day and night activities and affects physiological processes.
  • For Example :  production of the hormone melatonin, which is released when it is dark and is inhibited when there is light present. 
  • results in sleep deprivation, fatigue, headaches, stress, anxiety, and other health problems.

Sky Glow Pollution: 

• High levels of sky glow obscures the stars in the night sky.
• Astronomers raised concern that it reduces their ability to view celestial objects.

Mitigation Measures: 

• Changing Nature of Artificial Light:
  • LED lighting, with its short-wavelength emissions, penetrates deeper into water, altering the nature of artificial light.
  • Recommendations include using red light, which doesn’t penetrate water as deeply, and erecting barriers to shield coastlines from artificial light.
• Awareness and Education: Raise public awareness about the detrimental effects of light pollution on ecosystems, human health, and astronomical observations.
• Research and Data Collection: Urgent need for more extensive data collection across a wider geographic area and various organisms to understand the full impact of artificial light on marine ecosystem

Way Forward: To address Light Pollution it is essential to balance the need for outdoor lighting with the preservation of natural darkness for the benefit of both ecosystems and human well-being.

Source: DownTOEarth