Introduction.
Global remote sensing imagery from DMSP OLS from 1992 to 2013, including three non-radiometric calibrated nighttime light images. The three types of annual average images are: cloudless observation frequency image, average light image, and stable light image. At present, the geographic remote sensing ecological network can provide free stable light images across the country**. Steady light imagery is an annual raster image that calibrates the average nighttime light intensity, which includes the lights of cities, towns, and other places as a persistent light source, and removes the effects of occasional noise such as moonlight clouds, fires, and oil and gas combustion. The pixel DN value of the image represents the average light intensity and ranges from 0 to 63.
Body. The Linear Scanning Service System (OLS) of the U.S. Meteorological Satellite Program (DMSP), which began in the 70s of the 20th century, was originally designed to capture the faint moonlight reflected by the clouds at night, so as to obtain information on the distribution of clouds at night. However, scientists unexpectedly discovered that DMSP OLS can capture the luminescence of towns and other lights at night in cloudless conditions, which is the origin of nocturnal remote sensing.
At present, the main noctilucent remote sensing Earth observation platforms are the DMSP OLS (1992-2013) and NPP VIIRS (2012-present) of NOAA in the United States.
Nighttime light image data can be used as an effective form of representation of human activities, and has great potential and application prospects in macro-scale urban research. The application direction mainly includes the following aspects:
Estimation of socio-economic parameters: GDP estimates, population estimates, electricity consumption estimates, carbon emission estimates, etc.
Urbanization monitoring and evaluation: monitoring of changes in urban built-up areas, analysis of the evolution of urban agglomerations and urban systems, etc.
Major Event Assessment: Monitoring of energy crises, natural disasters, war events, etc.
Research on ecological and environmental effects: analysis of environmental effects of urban expansion, analysis of light pollution effects, etc.
The nighttime light index data provided by the Geographic Remote Sensing Ecosystem Network is the global remote sensing image of DMSP OLS from 1992 to 2013, including three non-radiometric calibrated nighttime light images. The three types of annual average images are: cloudless observation frequency image, average light image, and stable light image. At present, it is available for free of charge with stable light images nationwide**. Steady light imagery is an annual raster image that calibrates the average nighttime light intensity, which includes the lights of cities, towns, and other places as a persistent light source, and removes the effects of occasional noise such as moonlight clouds, fires, and oil and gas combustion. The pixel DN value of the image represents the average light intensity and ranges from 0 to 63.