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Effect of artificial light at night on ecophysiological functions of plants
Ležal, Lukáš ; Konrádová, Hana (advisor) ; Lhotáková, Zuzana (referee)
Artificial light at night, as a significant source of anthropogenic pollution, has long been overlooked, both among the general public and in the scientific community as well as at the legislature level. Steps to reduce the negative impacts of artificial light at night have been taken late and to an insufficient extent, and it was the low general awareness that was one of the motivations for the bachelor thesis on this topic. Plants are a group of organisms that receive less attention than, for example, humans, although they far exceed them in ecological importance. Artificial light at night has the potential to alter the composition of plant communities and the food webs that are linked to them, of which humans are at the top. This is done by shifting plant phenological phases, disrupting the natural perception of day and night, modifying growth patterns and morphological characteristics, increasing irradiance stress or reducing the efficiency of photosynthesis. It is through a comprehensive knowledge of the interaction of plants with artificial light at night that society can effectively protect nature and introduce the necessary new standards and technologies to ensure sustainable development.
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The impact of architectural lighting on the environment of NKP Vyšehrad area
Kučera, Patrik ; Kárníková, Hana ; Maierová, Lenka
Architectural lighting performs an aesthetic function, accentuating the significance of historic buildings or important public spaces. At the time of the creation of historic buildings, the artificial night lighting of facades was neither affordable nor technologically feasible. The architecture was designed for daylighting, which is dynamic and creates different shadows and contrasts. With the coming of new powerful LED sources, lighting is becoming more and more involved in the atmosphere of the night environment, not only on festive occasions but also permanently. Intense cones of light create new, foreign elements in the nightscape. The increase in the frequency and intensity of electric lighting in the night environment contributes to light pollution that burdens nature and degrades the cultural landscape. The study analyses the illumination of the historic buildings of the Vyšehrad, assessing the effect of lighting on the monumental value of the buildings and the degree of interference with the natural environment of the park. Using brightness analysis, it monitors the adequacy of light use, identifies excessively illuminated areas, and places at risk of glare from light sources. The results demonstrate the contribution of architectural lighting to light pollution. Highintensity lighting and placement of light sources that do not support the plasticity of architectural detail affect the historical context in the environment - high contrasts affect visual comfort and user orientation. Light cones encroaching into the tree canopy have a negative impact. The excessive intensity and inappropriate direction of light are also detrimental to the wider context of the city.
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Plunging Brno into darkness: Measuring the contribution of public lighting to the total luminance of the night sky
Novák, F. ; Baxant, P.
The article deals with the description of measurements of night sky luminance in urban agglomeration with emphasis on the determination of changes in the values of these luminances when public and architectural lighting is temporarily turned off. The measurements took place in Brno, the second largest city in Czech Republic, with the population around 382 thousand. The presented paper is one of the perspectives on the impact of human activity on the surrounding environment and an example of a possible solution to quantify the impact of the introduction of technologies that directly or indirectly affect the environment not only for humans, but also for almost all forms of life.
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