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Collection:
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NASA Scientific Visualization Studio Collection
Collection
NASA Scientific Visualization Studio Collection
Collection
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Title:
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Earth At Night (WMS)
Title
Earth At Night (WMS)
Title
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Instrument:
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DMSP/OLS
Instrument
DMSP/OLS
Instrument
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Description:
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Earth lights at night over the western hemisphere.
Description
Earth lights at night over the western hemisphere.
Description
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Abstract:
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This image of Earth's city lights was created with data from the Defense Meteorological Satellite Program (DMSP) Operational Linescan System (OLS). Originally designed to view clouds by moonlight, the OLS is also used to map the locations of permanent lights on the Earth's surface.
The brightest areas of the Earth are the most urbanized, but not necessarily the most populated. (Compare western Europe with China and India.) Cities tend to grow along coastlines and transportation networks. Even without the underlying map, the outlines of many continents would still be visible. The United States interstate highway system appears as a lattice connecting the brighter dots of city centers. In Russia, the Trans-Siberian railroad is a thin line stretching from Moscow through the center of Asia to Vladivostok. The Nile River, from the Aswan Dam to the Mediterranean Sea, is another bright thread through an otherwise dark region.
Even more than 100 years after the invention of the electric light, some regions remain thinly populated and unlit. Antarctica is entirely dark. The interior jungles of Africa and South America are mostly dark, but lights are beginning to appear there. Deserts in Africa, Arabia, Australia, Mongolia, and the United States are poorly lit as well (except along the coast), along with the boreal forests of Canada and Russia, and the great mountains of the Himalaya.
Abstract
This image of Earth's city lights was created with data from the Defense Meteorological Satellite Program (DMSP) Operational Linescan System (OLS). Originally designed to view clouds by moonlight, the OLS is also used to map the locations of permanent lights on the Earth's surface.
The brightest areas of the Earth are the most urbanized, but not necessarily the most populated. (Compare western Europe with China and India.) Cities tend to grow along coastlines and transportation networks. Even without the underlying map, the outlines of many continents would still be visible. The United States interstate highway system appears as a lattice connecting the brighter dots of city centers. In Russia, the Trans-Siberian railroad is a thin line stretching from Moscow through the center of Asia to Vladivostok. The Nile River, from the Aswan Dam to the Mediterranean Sea, is another bright thread through an otherwise dark region.
Even more than 100 years after the invention of the electric light, some regions remain thinly populated and unlit. Antarctica is entirely dark. The interior jungles of Africa and South America are mostly dark, but lights are beginning to appear there. Deserts in Africa, Arabia, Australia, Mongolia, and the United States are poorly lit as well (except along the coast), along with the boreal forests of Canada and Russia, and the great mountains of the Himalaya.
Abstract
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Completed:
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2004-02-16
Completed
2004-02-16
Completed
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Credit:
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*Please give credit for this visualization to*
: data courtesy Marc Imhoff (NASA/GSFC) and Christopher Elvidge (NOAA/NGDC). Image by Craig Mayhew (NASA/GSFC) and Robert Simmon (NASA/GSFC).
Credit
*Please give credit for this visualization to*
: data courtesy Marc Imhoff (NASA/GSFC) and Christopher Elvidge (NOAA/NGDC). Image by Craig Mayhew (NASA/GSFC) and Robert Simmon (NASA/GSFC).
Credit
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Studio:
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SVS
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Animator:
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Robert Simmon
Animator
Robert Simmon
Animator
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Animator:
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Craig Mayhew (Lead)
Animator
Craig Mayhew (Lead)
Animator
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Scientist:
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Christopher Elvidge (NOAA/NGDC)
Scientist
Christopher Elvidge (NOAA/NGDC)
Scientist
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Scientist:
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Marc Imhoff (NASA/GSFC)
Scientist
Marc Imhoff (NASA/GSFC)
Scientist
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Series:
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WMS
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DEPC Metadata:
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*DEPC Metadata* is available here.
DEPC_Metadata
*DEPC Metadata* is available here.
DEPC Metadata
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Keywords:
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DLESE
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Keywords:
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SVS
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Keywords:
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GCMD
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Keywords:
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Human geography
Keywords
Human geography
Keywords
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Keywords:
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EARTH SCIENCE
Keywords
EARTH SCIENCE
Keywords
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Keywords:
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Human Dimensions
Keywords
Human Dimensions
Keywords
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Keywords:
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Urbanization
Keywords
Urbanization
Keywords
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Keywords:
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Population
Keywords
Population
Keywords
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Keywords:
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Population Distribution
Keywords
Population Distribution
Keywords
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Keywords:
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Lights
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Web Map Service:
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*This product is available through our Web Map Service. Click here to learn more. [ http://svs.gsfc.nas…]*
Web_Map_Service
*This product is available through our Web Map Service. Click here to learn more. [ http://svs.gsfc.nas…]* Web Map Service
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Web Map Service:
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*This product is available through our Web Map Service. Click here to learn more. [ http://svs.gsfc.nas…]*
Web_Map_Service
*This product is available through our Web Map Service. Click here to learn more. [ http://svs.gsfc.nas…]* Web Map Service
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Web Map Service:
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*This product is available through our Web Map Service. Click here to learn more. [ http://svs.gsfc.nas…]*
Web_Map_Service
*This product is available through our Web Map Service. Click here to learn more. [ http://svs.gsfc.nas…]* Web Map Service
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facet_where:
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Canada
facet_where
Canada
facet_where
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facet_where:
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China
facet_where
China
facet_where
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facet_where:
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Australia
facet_where
Australia
facet_where
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facet_where:
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Russia
facet_where
Russia
facet_where
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facet_where:
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Mediterranean Sea
facet_where
Mediterranean Sea
facet_where
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facet_where:
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Mongolia
facet_where
Mongolia
facet_where
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facet_where:
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Moscow
facet_where
Moscow
facet_where
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facet_where:
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Goddard Space Flight Center (GSFC)
facet_where
Goddard Space Flight Center (GSFC)
facet_where
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facet_where:
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United States of America
facet_where
United States of America
facet_where
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facet_what:
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Earth
facet_what
Earth
facet_what
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facet_what:
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DMSP
facet_what
DMSP
facet_what
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facet_what:
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Defense Meteorological Satellite
facet_what
Defense Meteorological Satellite
facet_what
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facet_what:
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WMS
facet_what
WMS
facet_what
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Animation Number:
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2916
Animation_Number
2916
Animation Number
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UID:
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SPD-SCIVS-http://svs .gsfc.nasa.gov/vis/a 000000/a002900/a0029 16/west-4096-IMAGE
UID
SPD-SCIVS-http://svs .gsfc.nasa.gov/vis/a 000000/a002900/a0029 16/west-4096-IMAGE
UID
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original url:
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original_url
original url
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