Alteration of twilight sky brightness profile by light pollution

• Published in: SCIENTIFIC REPORTS
• Main Authors: Faid, Muhamad Syazwan; Shariff, Nur Nafhatun Md; Hamidi, Zety Sharizat; Wahab, Raihana Abdul; Ahmad, Nazhatulshima; Nawawi, Mohd Saiful Anwar Mohd; Nahwandi, Muhammad Syaoqi
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Published: NATURE PORTFOLIO 2024
• Subjects: Science & Technology - Other Topics
• Online Access: https://www-webofscience-com.uitm.idm.oclc.org/wos/woscc/full-record/WOS:001348040900014

The phenomenon of twilight has been stipulated as naturally dependent on the variables of solar depression, aerosol concentration and ozone composition. The unique color spectrum of twilight is attributed by ozone layer and aerosol, whereas its brightness is heavily relying on the altitude of sun below horizon. While all the natural dependence is being researched extensively, the impact of light pollution on the brightness of the twilight is not being explored thoroughly. The objective of this study is to find out the alteration of light pollution towards the natural behavior of twilight sky brightness. Total of 84 data of twilight brightness was collected from 2014 until 2022 using Sky Quality Meter, and the specific location with profile classified as urban, suburban and pristine is investigated to study the impact of light pollution on twilight brightness. The result demonstrates that the stability of twilight brightness, which naturally factored by solar depression within the range of 18 degrees, discovered to be heavy influenced by the zenith light pollution of the location sky, as evidenced by location that has zenith pollution of 17.11, 19.77, and 21.39, has horizontal twilight brightness of 14.84, 19.55 and 21.2 and solar depression during brightness stability at 11.5 degrees, 15.67 degrees and 17.49 degrees.