Issue link: https://maltatoday.uberflip.com/i/1211430
10 maltatoday | SUNDAY • 16 FEBRUARY 2020 JAMES DEBONO THE Milky Way is only visible in 12.8% of the entire surface area of the Maltese island, a study on light pollution based on scientific measurements shows. The Milky Way is the galaxy that con- tains our Solar System, with the name describing the galaxy's appearance from Earth: a hazy band of light seen in the night sky formed from stars that cannot be individually distinguished by the na- ked eye. Before the advent of night-time light- ing in the early 20th centuries, the Milky Way was a familiar sky feature for everyone. When light from street-lamps, homes and illuminations is thrown up into the sky it bounces off particles and moisture droplets in the atmosphere and is scat- tered, resulting in artificial "sky glow" – one of the key factors contributing to light pollution. In this way spectacles like the Milky Way are obscured from view. A global atlas of light pollution pub- lished three years ago had found that the Milky Way was no longer visible to more than one third of the world's pop- ulation. 60% of Europeans and almost 80% of North Americans cannot see the glowing band of our galaxy because of the effects of artificial lighting. But the problem is even worse in Mal- ta. The study shows that 87% of the ar- ea of the Maltese Islands is affected by light pollution, with the percentage ris- ing to 96% when Gozo is excluded. In Malta, the worst affected town is Birkirkara, while in Gozo, Victoria and Għajnsielem are the two brightest zones. The least affected site in Malta is Rdum tal-Vigarju (cliffs off Baħrija, lim- its of Rabat), whereas in Gozo, the dark- est region is Ta' Ħarrux (off Dwejra). The prevailing level of night sky brightness over the archipelago is also impinging upon Dark Sky Heritage Ar- eas (DSHAs) in coastal zones in Gozo, which are specifically designated to al- low the appreciation of the night sky and offer nocturnal animals a respite from artificial lighting. One major mitigation measure sug- gested by the study is the proper regula- tion of outdoor lighting through the use of properly designed lighting fixtures that direct their light downward, and the adoption of luminaires that emit a warmer colour, which results in less scattering of light. In technical terms, these desirable fixtures are said to have a correlated colour temperature (CCT) less than 3000 K. The study also identified the main per- manent culprits of light pollution to be public monuments, churches, shops, showrooms, billboards, public squares, and playgrounds, all of which could em- ploy smart lighting and be subject to specific curfews. Existing road lighting in Gozo also utilises lighting fixtures that emit light with a CCT larger than 3000 K, with the same type of luminaires now being in- troduced in Malta. "We have found evi- dence that recently-installed, badly-im- plemented road lighting has resulted in excessive night sky brightening," the study said. Specifically, the study refers to LED fixtures containing excessive blue rich luminaries, installed along the 1.4km Mellieha bypass between 2018 and 2019, which had a considerable negative impact. Furthermore, the study proposes the establishment of a perimeter and buffer zone that would help conserve DSHAs. A new Dark Sky Heritage Area is also proposed for Malta at Rdum Majjiesa (near the Majjistral Nature & History Park) and the area stretching between Rdum tal-Vigarju and Miġra l-Ferħa. The landmark report, which includes the first ever map of the night sky brightness for the Maltese oslands, was prepared by a team of scientists led by astrophysicist Joseph Caruana from the Department of Physics and the Institute of Space Sciences and Astronomy (IS- SA) of the University of Malta. NEWS PHOTO JUSKTEEZ VU Milky Way only visible from 13% of Malta IMF sounds warning on Malta money laundering rules MASSIMO COSTA THE International Monetary Fund has told Malta to tackle shortcomings on anti-money laundering rules, or face "add- ed difficulties" on correspond- ent banking and damage to the country's attractiveness for in- vestment, and financial stability. The IMF's Concluding State- ment said Malta would face dif- ficulties in processing payments that would affect certain eco- nomic sectors. "In particular, the understand- ing of risks and the monitoring and supervision of banks and other high-risk sectors and pro- grams – such as remote gam- ing, virtual financial assets, and the IIP – should continue to be strengthened." Malta has enjoyed very rapid economic growth but this has presented key challenges on money laundering. The IMF said Malta's financial regulator remained "under strain due to the large number of financial institutions under supervision, the evolving regulatory envi- ronment and challenges asso- ciated with new and complex products." It recommended that the watchdog's supervisory capacity and crisis management frame- work be further enhanced. The IMF also said large in- flows of foreign labour were increasing the pressure on the island's housing, infrastructure and natural resource manage- ment. The IMF said that while public debt had decreased markedly, there could be fiscal risks asso- ciated with contingent liabilities and pension spending. It said Malta had to maintain revenues and control spending, without depending on the sale of citi- zenship, and explore ways to diversify beyond corporate tax income proceeds.