Since we live in the "city", what would it look like if there weren't street lights, car lights and porch lights at night? We are probably about a 7 in light pollution numbers. Our population lights are lighting up miles of sky preventing us from seeing what is truly out there above our atmosphere. Not seeing the stars so well, we take for granted that all we can see is what we can see. Some children live in such light pollution they have only seen a few of the brightest stars. Don't get me wrong, lights are great for helping us see better at night while we drive, protecting us from bad people who like to lurk in shadows and letting us enjoy outdoor activities at night. What does all this light do for other creatures, like insects, birds and night animals who see best in the dark? What can we do to keep down the light? Many cities are changing the "hats" that cover their street lights. Homeowner associations are requiring homes to have lower watt porch lights. Some cities require you to just turn off your lights if you aren't using them. Every little bit can make a difference. Some of the problems Light Pollution can cause: 1. Glare from artificial lights can also impact wetland habitats that are home to amphibians such as frogs and toads, whose nighttime croaking is part of the breeding ritual. Artificial lights disrupt this nocturnal activity, interfering with reproduction and reducing populations. 2.Sea turtles live in the ocean but hatch at night on the beach. Hatchlings find the sea by detecting the bright horizon over the ocean. Artificial lights draw them away from the ocean. In Florida alone, millions of hatchlings die this way every year. 3. Birds that migrate or hunt at night navigate by moonlight and starlight. Artificial light can cause them to wander off course and toward the dangerous nighttime landscapes of cities. Every year millions of birds die colliding with needlessly illuminated buildings and towers. Migratory birds depend on cues from properly timed seasonal schedules. Artificial lights can cause them to migrate too early or too late and miss ideal climate conditions for nesting, foraging and other behaviors. 4. Many insects are drawn to light, but artificial lights can create a fatal attraction. Declining insect populations negatively impact all species that rely on insects for food or pollination. Let's try to be mindful of light. If we don't need to use it, turn it off. Open your eyes to the dark and the large ecosystem that needs darkness to survive.
18 Comments
sydney
3/15/2017 04:22:26 pm
the stars are so pretty in lake powell
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jenna
3/15/2017 05:58:49 pm
this reminds me of all the camping trips ive gone on
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p a r k e r
3/15/2017 07:00:04 pm
that really cool
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Paige
3/15/2017 07:04:10 pm
Oh that is why I see more stars when I go out camping because there is no city lights.
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Katelyn Ashton
3/15/2017 08:08:07 pm
I didn't know there was such thing as light pollution.
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parker
3/15/2017 08:46:49 pm
Jupiter has ring just learned on fire fox
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Caden
3/15/2017 09:04:43 pm
Interesting
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Bandon
3/15/2017 09:55:01 pm
i like the pics
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Brennan
3/15/2017 09:56:20 pm
wow!
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Zane
3/15/2017 09:58:52 pm
I really like the last picture.
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sinjin
3/16/2017 07:15:34 am
it was so cool
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b r a d y
3/16/2017 07:17:41 am
Wow. I saw stars like no other when I went through Nevada,in the middle of nowhere, on my way to Disneyland.
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Tabitha
3/16/2017 07:17:44 am
Wow nice to know we are a seven💡🔦🏮
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deja
3/16/2017 07:28:10 am
that is sad but amazing
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Zaya
3/16/2017 07:28:20 am
That actually kinda looks pretty...
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Liliana
3/16/2017 07:39:48 am
The top picture that says after has really pretty. I also liked the stars in the picture of Lake Powell.
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Zaya
3/17/2017 07:23:34 am
I didn't know that mattered!
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Mrs. TaylorI love science! Everything about the world is interesting and never boring. I love to study plants, animals, insects, and people. My favorite subjects are my students who are the most unique organisms on the planet! Categories |