MAPPING CITY LIGHTS WITH NIGHTTIME DATA FROM THE DMSP OPERATIONAL LINESCAN SYSTEM

The Defense Meteorological Satellite Program (DMSP) Operational Linesc an System (OLS) has a unique capability to detect low levels of visibl e and near-infrared (VNIR) radiance at night. With the OLS ''VIS'' ban d data, it is possible to detect clouds illuminated by moonlight, plus lights from cities, towns, industrial sites, gas flares, and ephemera l events such as fires and lightning illuminated clouds. This paper pr esents methods which have been developed for detecting and geolocating VNIR emission sources with nighttime DMSP-OLS data and the analysis o f image time series to identify spatially stable emissions from cities , towns, and industrial sites. Results are presented for the United St ates.