Media Information

 
 
 
Collection:
NASA Scientific Visualization Studio Collection
Title:
The Lights of Earth: Full Spin
Instrument:
DMSP/OLS
Description:
The Nighttime Lights of the World data set is compiled from the October 1994 - March 1995 DMSP nighttime data collected when moonlight was low. Using the OLS thermal infrared band, areas containing clouds were removed and the remaining area used in the time series.
Abstract:
The Lights of Earth can be seen from space. Human-made lights highlight particularly developed or populated areas of the Earth's surface, including the seaboards of Europe, the eastern United States, and Japan. Many large cities are located near rivers or oceans so that they can exchange goods cheaply by boat. Particularly dark areas include the central parts of South America, Africa, Asia, and Australia. The above image is actually a composite of hundreds of pictures made by the Defense Meteorological Satellite Program (DMSP) currently operates four satellites carrying the Operational Linescan System (OLS) in low-altitude polar orbits. Three of these satellites record nighttime data. The DMSP-OLS has a unique capability to detect low levels of visible-near infrared (VNIR) radiance at night. With the OLS 'VIS' band data it is possible to detect clouds illuminated by moonlight, plus lights from cities, towns, industrial sites, gas flares, and ephemeral events such as fires and lightning-illuminate d clouds. The Nighttime Lights of the World data set is compiled from the October 1994 - March 1995 DMSP nighttime data collected when moonlight was low. Using the OLS thermal infrared band, areas containing clouds were removed and the remaining area used in the time series.
Completed:
2002-03-06
Credit:
*Please give credit for this visualization to*
NASA/Goddard Space Flight Center
Scientific Visualization Studio
Studio:
SVS
Animator:
Stuart A. Snodgrass (Lead)
Animator:
Robert Simmon
Animator:
Craig Mayhew
Scientist:
Christopher Elvidge (NOAA/NGDC)
Scientist:
Marc Imhoff (NASA/GSFC)
Series:
Earth at Night
Data Collected:
1994/10 - 1995/03
Keywords:
DLESE
Keywords:
SVS
Keywords:
GCMD
Keywords:
Human geography
Keywords:
EARTH SCIENCE
Keywords:
Biosphere
Keywords:
Ecological Dynamics
Keywords:
Fire Occurrence
Keywords:
Lights
Keywords:
Night
note:
More Information on this topic available at
http://visibleearth…
Video:
SVS2002-0009* * *
Goddard TV Tape:
facet_where:
Goddard Space Flight Center
facet_where:
Earth
facet_where:
United States
facet_where:
Japan
facet_where:
Australia
facet_when:
October 1994
facet_when:
March 1995
facet_what:
Earth
facet_what:
Polar
facet_what:
DMSP
facet_what:
Defense Meteorological Satellite
facet_what:
Defense Meteorological Satellite Program
facet_when_year:
1995
facet_when_year:
1994
Animation Number:
2397
UID:
SPD-SCIVS-http://svs .gsfc.nasa.gov/vis/a 000000/a002300/a0023 97/image3-IMAGE
original url:

The Lights of Earth: Full Spin