Click on above image to access data for the completed regions of the world. Data for additional regions will be made available on-line when completed.
The Nighttime Lights of the World dataset contains the first satellite-based global inventory of human settlements, derived from nighttime data from the Defense Meteorological Satellite Program (DMSP) Operational Linescan System (OLS). The DMSP-OLS has the unique capability to observe faint sources of visible-near infrared emissions present at the Earth's surface, including cities, towns, villages, gas flares, and fires. NGDC has developed algorithms for producing georeferenced fire and nighttime lights products.
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For specific information on algorithms and dataset production, see our references page.
Send questions or comments about the Nighttime Lights program to dmsp@ngdc.noaa.gov
Last updated: 20 Oct 98