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Nighttime Lights of the World
Custom Data CD
Maps have long been used to imagine events occurring on the ground from an airborne perspective. Satellites now record a similar view of actual events for scientists to study. 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 visible 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-illuminated 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.
The cost of a Nighttime Lights Custom Data CD is $25 USD plus shipping and handling. You may have multiple selections on a single CD, up to about 650 Mb. The data will in be raw binary format, which requires special image viewing software to view (e.g. as ENVI from Research Systems Inc.). To start the order process go to the Nighttime Lights Custom Data CD page and fill out the necessary fields in the form. Please click the 'Update' button before the 'Get Data' button to make sure your selections are processed properly.
----Order a Nighttime Lights Custom Data CD
----Go to the Custom Data CD FAQ
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