Global Nighttime Light Changes 2014-2022

A recent study published in Nature, led by Zhe Zhu of the University of Connecticut, revealed a 16% net increase in global nighttime artificial light from 2014 to 2022, but with significant regional variations. Sub-Saharan Africa and Southeast Asia, including countries like Somalia, Burundi, and Cambodia, experienced dramatic brightening due to urbanization and expanded energy access. In contrast, Europe saw a 4% net decrease, driven by energy conservation efforts and a shift to LED lighting, with France leading in dark-sky conservation. Countries like Ukraine, Lebanon, Yemen, and Afghanistan experienced massive light loss due to armed conflicts and infrastructure collapse, while Haiti and Venezuela saw declines linked to economic crises. The United States registered a 6% net increase, with varied regional trends. The research, utilizing over a million daily satellite images processed by United States===NASA, indicates a volatile global nightscape influenced by economic growth, conflict, and environmental policies.