Images Dated 17th August 2009

India at night, satellite image

India at night, satellite view. This image is a composite showing the change in illumination over India from 1992-2003. Satellite data from 2003 is coloured red, 1998 is coloured green and 1992 is blue. The three data sets are composited to form the image. Nighttime lights on the map that are white are lights that were present throughout the entire period. Areas that are marked by red have only appeared in 2003. Areas coloured green and blue were only present in 1998 and 1992 respectively but are no longer visible. This image was created by the Defense Meteorological Satellite Program (DMSP), National Oceanic & Atmospheric Administration, USA.
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© NOAA/SCIENCE PHOTO LIBRARY

North America at night, satellite image

Africa at night. Satellite image of the Earth at night, set against a background of stars, centred on the continent of Africa. North is at top. City lights (yellow) show areas of dense population. Most of Africa is dark in comparison with the bright lights of the cities of Europe and the Middle East (across top). Rural and undeveloped areas in Africa include the vast Sahara desert in the north, tropical forests in central Africa, and the savannah and deserts of eastern and southern Africa. City lights seen outside Africa and Europe include part of South America (lower left), India (upper right) and islands in the Atlantic and Indian oceans. Image data obtained in 2001 by the Defense Meteorological Satellite Program (DMSP)

© NASA/NOAA/SCIENCE PHOTO LIBRARY

Africa, night-day satellite image

Africa, night-day satellite image. This composite image of the Earth is set against a background of stars, and is centred on the continent of Africa. North is at top. The left-hand half of the globe is at night, and city lights (yellow) show areas of dense population. The right-hand half of the globe is lit by sunlight and shows clouds (white), seas and oceans (blue), and land cover: vegetation (green) and arid areas (brown). This day-night line is the dawn terminator. This image, from 2001, combines data from a variety of satellite sensors (AVHRR, SeaWiFS, MODIS) for the sunlit areas. The night-time data is from the Defense Meteorological Satellite Program (DMSP). For the separate images, see E074/080 and E050/678

© NASA/NOAA/SCIENCE PHOTO LIBRARY