New research undertaken across the world by The Institut de Ciències del Mar (ICM) has shown how major festivities of different human societies modulate light pollution patterns on a global scale … and that this may have consequences for natural eco systems.

The study, undertaken in collaboration with Australian and New Zealand researchers, including Dr Andre Chiaradia, a research scientist at the Phillip Island Nature Parks, was published in August in the prestigious journal People and Nature … and highlights the close relationship between light pollution levels, cultural activity in our society, and effects which can extend well beyond urban areas.

The study concluded that night landscape transformation caused by artificial light, commonly known as light pollution, is an unmistakable mark of human activity on earth, and can have serious consequences for living organisms.

"This work now provides a solid basis for developing, planning and management measures to mitigate the effects of light pollution," said Dr Chiaradia.

"The data obtained reveals the need for continuous monitoring of this type of pollution to understand its effect on the natural environment and to be able to develop global policies aimed at promoting a use of artificial lights that is compatible with the preservation of the natural world.”

The study could have ramifications for Phillip Island’s large population of little penguins and short-tailed shearwaters.

As these seabirds are nocturnal, and are vulnerable to the dangers of artificial lights, Phillip Island Nature Parks (PINP) issued a statement saying  that it is committed to minimising light pollution and managing night traffic effectively, with the aim of striking a balance between conservation efforts and providing memorable experiences for visitors.

For their study, researchers analysed satellite images showing light intensity between 2014 and 2019, which made it possible to obtain data on this type of pollution on a global scale.

“The subsequent analysis confirms that a peak of light pollution occurs during Christmas in Christian countries, while in Muslim and Hindu countries the annual peaks coincide with Ramadan and Diwali, respectively. In the case of China and Vietnam, the peak of light pollution coincides temporally with the celebration of the New Year,” ICM-CSIC researcher Dr Francisco Ramírez stated.

He added that understanding how human activities influence light pollution is now key to assessing its impact and designing possible mitigation measures.

"Previous studies have related the economic development of countries to their light pollution patterns, determining that, in general, the richest are the ones that pollute the most.

“However, this is the first time that we have assessed how certain socio-cultural activities affect light pollution on a global scale.”