Light pollution has brightened Earth by 16% since 2014, satellites find
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A new study using satellite images has found that artificial lights at night have brightened Earth by 16% between 2014 and 2022. However, some areas have dimmed due to energy-saving policies, wars, and natural disasters, with Europe showing a significant decline in night-time artificial light.
Artificial lights at night have increased by 16% globally since 2014. This is according to a study using satellite images from NASA's Black Marble tool. The increase is mostly driven by developing countries like India, China, and parts of Africa. However, some areas have dimmed due to energy-saving policies, wars, and natural disasters. For example, Ukraine saw a dramatic decline in night-time artificial light following the Russian invasion. France also dimmed by 33% thanks to new policies. The study used data from NASA's Visible Infrared Imaging Radiometer Suite to track changes in artificial light use over time.
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