Baseline studies

Baseline studies are important for any project.

The baseline serves as a benchmark or reference point for all future activities. It is typically done at the beginning of a project to establish the current status of a situation. A baseline survey with regards to pollution, is one that takes an established aspect of pollution at a certain point in time - then measuring against that standard reference to observe if efforts have been made. Looking at past data records may be useful in determining baseline levels

Types of baselines that can be measured:

• Current state of water, air and noise pollution
• Chemicals and pesticides present at a site
• Current waste management practices

Throw some light on it

NASA- Global City Lights - Craig Mayhew & Robert Simmon

 

Wasted and excessive artificial light is considered light pollution. It is another form of anthropogenic pollution that encompasses a suite of negative consequences. As a result of the progression of urban sprawl initiated in the 20th century, light pollution has drastically increased - particularly in major cities where population is dense and where excessive amounts of energy are exploited.

Excessive exposure to artificial lights exacerbates many problems. Most humans, lets say University Students are a walking stress case and the largest consumers of stimulants like coffee and energy drinks. They have a hard time sleeping as it is, and the heightened exposure to artificial light further interferes with their circadian rhythm (natural sleep and wake cycle).

There are numerous studies that show that excessive artificial light is also linked to a variety of ecological impacts. Amphibians like salamanders forage in the midst of the night, but with the addition of lamp posts and street, residential, and building lights, this makes it unideal for them to forage as they are being increasingly exposed to their predators. As we've probably all seen, nocturnal insects, like moths, congregate around bright artificial light sources at night. This further causes bats and birds to gravitate towards that light where their food source is concentrated in one area. So we ask the question - is the presence of lamp posts considered ideal for these particular species' survival as they have adapted to this for the past century? Perhaps it is - but what about the moths? Studies show that this source of light may alter their mating behaviors. For example, the females' hormones are disrupted and they do not produce the pheromones needed to attract their male counterpart. As for birds, their migration patterns are controlled by natural light, temperature, and other natural factors; however, the presence of artificial light is shown to disrupt their migration patterns - so they end up being confused and fly in circles! Another example is the depletion of dark areas on increasingly lit-up coastal beaches for sea turtles to nest. Aside from the disorientation due to the artificial light sources, the female turtles' number one competitor in looking for a nice, dark, peace and quiet area on the coast are tourists, businesses, and residences.

  

We have an excessive obsession over lighting up dark spaces.

Will the development of high efficiency and low intensity light and light fixtures preserve our once dark-nightly skies? Realistically, I don't think so - but it is one step in preventing excessive pollution being stressed on our environmental surroundings.

This begs the question - Are we willing to sacrifice all of natures natural behaviors in the environment in order for us to see in complete darkness? To what extent are humans going to ensure that the planet meets our needs without sacrificing all the biotic factors and relationships on earth? Think again when you switch on a light - Does it serve a functional purpose? Is it really going to stop the cat burglars from raiding your abode? We all need to learn how to power-off and turn off non-essential lighting and technology.

Sources:

http://www.conserveturtles.org/seaturtleinformation.php?page=lighting