Fifty years of nightly global low-light imaging satellite observations

The history of satellite remote sensing nighttime lights traces it is roots back the U.S. Air Force Defense Meteorological Satellite Program (DMSP) which began flying polar orbiting satellites with cloud imaging sensors in 1970’s. meteorologists found that they could improve weather predictions visible and thermal band imagery. channels on early DMSP worked well daytime—but were unable to see clouds at nights. Visible low light was added mid-1970’s using photomultiplier tubes amplify signal, enabling detection moonlit clouds. In 1992, NOAA established a digital archive for data National Geophysical Data Center Boulder, Colorado. Earth Observation Group (EOG) formed 1994 dedicated efforts making global products uses by science policy communities. Many shortcomings addressed NASA/NOAA Infrared Imaging Radiometer Suite (VIIRS) day/night (DNB), opened new era studies. total, EOG has produced 65 annual over 650 monthly products.