Spatiotemporal analysis of light pollution in Antalya, Turkey, and its relationship with urban air quality

Abstract

Urban expansion escalates both light and air pollution, posing significant threats to environmental health and energy sustainability. This study presents a spatiotemporal analysis of light pollution in Antalya, Turkey, and explores its relationship to urban air quality. Using ground-based measurements from a sky quality meter (SQM), clouds masks from EUMETSAT, and satellite data from NASA’s Black Marble, a comprehensive analysis of night sky brightness and its long-term trends was conducted from 2012 to 2023. Analysis of annual composites identified specific development projects, such as a new hospital and airport expansion, as major sources of increased brightness, with total radiance consistently rising across all districts, reflecting urban sprawl. The relationship between particulate matter (PM2.5) and satellite-observed radiance was examined using data from four ground-based air quality monitoring stations. Despite filtering for clear-sky conditions and moonlight, no statistically significant correlation was found on monthly or daily timescales. This null result likely reflects the decoupling between surface-based PM2.5 measurements and the vertically integrated aerosol column influencing satellite-observed radiance. Upward radiant flux was also quantified to estimate a lower bound in terms of electric cost. Our findings highlight the impact of rapid urbanization on light pollution and provide a baseline for developing targeted mitigation strategies, while indicating that the interplay with air quality in this region is complex.