Buzz
The glow of holiday lights contributes to light pollution, as observed by NASA. Data from the NOAA/NASA Suomi National Polar-orbiting Partnership (Suomi NPP) satellite shows that nighttime brightness over U.S. cities surges by 20 to 50 percent during Christmas and New Year’s celebrations.
The Suomi NPP satellite employs the Visual Infrared Imaging Radiometer Suite (VIRS) to monitor Earth’s night side and capture light emissions from urban areas worldwide. Researchers at NASA’s Goddard Space Flight Center in Greenbelt, Maryland, created an algorithm to eliminate interference from moonlight, clouds, and atmospheric particles in the imagery.
The findings reveal a fascinating trend. A team led by Miguel Román, a research physicist at NASA Goddard and member of the Suomi NPP Land Discipline Team, discovered that U.S. holiday lights begin to intensify on Black Friday and remain brighter until New Year’s Day. Suburban regions, adorned with festive displays like light-up Santas and snowflakes, experienced a 30 to 50 percent surge in brightness, while urban areas saw a more modest 20 to 30 percent increase.
Román explains, "We observed a shift in activity patterns, with people staying home or traveling to rural areas to celebrate, illuminating their surroundings. In contrast, urban centers dim as residents leave for holiday destinations."
"The trend is nearly universal," Román notes. "Even with diverse ethnic and religious backgrounds, the U.S. shows a consistent rise in holiday lighting across most urban areas."
To ensure accuracy, NASA focused on snow-free regions, such as the West Coast, areas south of Washington D.C., and Puerto Rico, as snow reflects light and distorts the data. Despite excluding northern cities, the pattern remains evident.
Román states, "These lighting trends reflect a shared national tradition."
