The most detailed ever satellite maps of England’s dark skies released by the Campaign to Protect Rural England (CPRE), providing unprecedented level of understanding into where light pollution is most invasive.
CPRE writes:
The most detailed ever satellite maps of England’s dark skies released by the Campaign to Protect Rural England (CPRE). Produced by consultants LUC, they enable users to search by postcode, and provide a more detailed and up-to-date analysis of England’s skies compared with the global atlas of light pollution released this week.
The interactive maps were produced with satellite images captured at 1.30 am throughout September 2015. They show that the Isles of Scilly, West Devon and Eden in Cumbria are England’s darkest districts, and that the very darkest spot in England, out of more than 2.25million pixels, is a secluded hillside on the East Kielder Moors in Northumberland.
CPRE’s interactive maps also give us an unprecedented level of understanding into where light pollution is most invasive. Nineteen of the brightest 20 skies are above London boroughs, while Manchester is the only non-London district in the top 20. As a region, London is at least nine times brighter than any other except the North West.
The very brightest spot is above a Tata Steel foundry in Rotherham, followed by the Thanet Earth greenhouse complex in Kent and the space around Wembley Stadium in London. The brightest point in the East Midlands is Leicester City’s King Power stadium, still lighting up the sky long after the games have finished.
Nationwide, the maps show that just 22% of England is untouched by light pollution, and that 53% of our darkest skies are over National Parks and Areas of Outstanding Natural Beauty. Northumberland National Park enjoys 96% pristine night skies, while the South Downs, granted Dark Sky Reserve status in May 2016, is London’s closest expanse of dark skies.
The maps also show where we can find oases of darkness in our brightest areas: Wimbledon Common and the Mayfield Lavender Fields in London; countryside to the north of Newcastle airport; and Allestree Park on the edge of Derby.This research comes at a time of increasing awareness of the harmful effects light pollution can have on the health of people and wildlife [4]. That these skies were monitored at 1.30 am illustrates just how long into the night England’s lights continue to shine.
Local councils were estimated to spend £613 million on street lighting in 2014-15, and the lights can account for between 15-30% of a council’s carbon emissions. The research shows that motorways, trunk roads and business districts are significant contributors to light pollution.
LUC generated the maps from data gathered by the National Oceanographic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) in the United States. They make it easier to identify and reduce severe light pollution, and help to identify existing dark skies that need may need protecting.
CPRE recommends that:
- Local authorities develop policies in local plans to control light pollution, which ensure that existing dark skies are protected and that new developments do not increase local light pollution.
- Highways England use the maps to identify sections of motorways and trunk roads that need urgent attention to reduce light pollution. Any new lighting should be well designed and the minimum required to meet its purpose
- Businesses review their current lighting and future development plans to save money by dimming or switching off light to reduce pollution
- Primary schools use the lesson plans that CPRE has disseminated to promote the enjoyment of dark skies
