Saturday 11/April/2026 – 12:15 AM
A study based on high-resolution satellite data revealed that the world has become brighter at night in recent years, but this shift has not been balanced. Rather, it has reshaped the map of human activity unevenly between areas witnessing a light boom and other areas where the light is declining.
According to what was published by The Sun, VIIRS Day/Night Band data, covering the period between 2014 and 2022, showed that global night illumination increased at a rate of approximately 2% per year, equivalent to an overall increase of about 16%.
Researcher Christopher Kiba explained that this growth was not uniform, as light emissions increased by 34% in the areas that witnessed an increase, compared to a decrease of 18% in other areas, in an indication of varying patterns of human activity and local policies.
The results showed that changes in nighttime illumination have become more dynamic and localized than previously thought, with countries such as China and India witnessing an increase in illumination as a result of rapid urbanization, while some industrialized countries recorded a decline, partly attributed to the adoption of LED lighting technologies and policies to reduce light pollution.
The study showed direct effects of political events, as night lighting decreased sharply in Ukraine following the Russian war, while France recorded a decline of 33%. As a result of energy conservation measures, such as turning off public lighting after midnight.
