A Study on Light Pollution around Yokkaichi, Mie, Using a Digital Camera

Abstract

Yokkaichi City is a major city in the Hokusei area, located in northern Mie Prefecture, Japan. Yokkaichi City has various environments such as the Suzuka Mountains to the west, Ise Bay to the east, and an industrial complex on the coastal area of the bay. The purpose of this paper is to determine the current conditions of light pollution in the Yokkaichi area. The researcher carried out surveys of light pollution using a digital camera at three different areas: the mountainous area, the residential-suburban area, and the bay area. This study found that the Yokkaichi area did not have the same brightness as the urban areas, nor did they have a light environment where full stars could be seen. It indicates that there is not an extreme polarization of brightness and darkness, but rather a certain level of brightness and a certain level of darkness on the whole. In conclusion, the light pollution in the Yokkaichi area has not reached a serious state and is recoverable.