World Map City Lights At Night
Nasa scientists have just released the first new global map of earth at night since 2012.
World map city lights at night. Nasa scientists used data from the satellite to produce this world map of cities at night. Skylines at twilight are a photographer s delight. A stunning view of the world at night that depicts the extent and patterns of human settlements across the planet. Originally designed to view clouds by moonlight the ols is also used to map the locations of permanent lights on the earth s surface.
Satellite image data derived from the nasa 2016 night lights map is the source for this clear view of how we light up the planet during the nighttime hours. The night earth map shows the lights that are visible at night on the earth s surface. Taken entirely from nasa satellites at night city lights are clearly shown producing a golden white glow. Each white dot on the map represents the light of a city a fire a ship at sea an oil well flare or other light source.
This composite image which has become a popular poster shows a global view of earth at night compiled from over 400 satellite images. The brightest areas of the earth are the most urbanized but not necessarily the most populated compare western europe with china and india. Such areas like western and central europe eastern united states japan south korea and china produce the most light at night. It orbits the earth and has sensors that collect observations about earth s atmosphere and surface during night time hours.
By studying earth at night researchers can investigate how cities expand monitor light intensity to estimate energy use and economic activity and aid in disaster response. This image of earth s city lights was created with data from the defense meteorological satellite program dmsp operational linescan system ols. Cities tend to grow along coastlines and transportation networks. Nasa s goddard space flight center kathryn mersmann.
But while cities bask in the glow some are trying to remedy a side effect of growth.