ARTIFICIAL LIGHT AT NIGHT (ALAN)

As coastal areas become increasingly built up, concerns are growing about levels of artificial light at night (ALAN) and its potential impacts on the marine environment. Light pollution is well-studied in terms of its effects on the night sky and astronomy, and on terrestrial ecosystems, but effects on the ocean have been understudied. The studies that have been completed have found that up to 1.9 million km2 of the world’s coastal waters are being exposed to biologically significant levels of ALAN.

This video gives a summary of ALAN, its potential impacts and possible ways in which to mitigate these impacts to help protect coastal waters around the world.

Further information
Night lights: New global atlas maps out artificial light at night under the sea: https://www.pml.ac.uk/news/Night-ligh...

Megacities out-shine the moon in coastal environments according to the first quantification of artificial light at night: https://www.pml.ac.uk/News/Megacities...

Coastal lights trick coral reefs into early spawning: https://www.pml.ac.uk/News/Coastal-li...

Coastal cities expose seafloor to dangerous light pollution: https://www.pml.ac.uk/News/Coastal-ci...

Losing the cover of darkness: https://www.pml.ac.uk/News/Losing-the...

Improving understanding of light and noise pollution on aquatic environments: https://www.pml.ac.uk/News/Improving-...