Defense Meteorological Satellite ProgramDefense Meteorological Satellite Program (what is it and what might be in the future)(what is it and what might be in the future)

David Clark (for Chris Elvidge)WGISS 25Sanya, ChinaFebruary, 23, 2008

Rationale For Satellite Remote Rationale For Satellite Remote Sensing of Nocturnal LightingSensing of Nocturnal Lighting

A unique indicator of human activity.A unique indicator of human activity. Rich in spatial, spectral and temporal Rich in spatial, spectral and temporal

variability.variability. Not widely exploited to date.Not widely exploited to date. Can be used as a proxy for the density of Can be used as a proxy for the density of

development, energy consumption, development, energy consumption, population count, and economic activity.population count, and economic activity.

The U.S. Air Force DMSP) Operational Line scan System (OLS) has aUnique capability to collect low-light imagery.

Polar orbiting3000 km swath2.7 km ground sample

distance (GSD)Two spectral bands:

visible and thermalSpectrum (um) : 0.5-0.9 and 10 - 12Nightly global coverageFlown since 1972Will continue till ~2012

Visible

Thermal

http://www.ngdc.noaa.gov/dmsp/download.html

1992 = blue1992 = blue1998 = green1998 = green2003 = red2003 = red

Dark North Dark North Korea and Korea and swirl of swirl of squid squid fishing fishing boats boats offshore.offshore.

BeijingBeijingRegionRegion1992 = blue1992 = blue1998 = green1998 = green2003 = red2003 = red

What do moderate spatial What do moderate spatial resolution satellite observed resolution satellite observed

nighttime lights look like?nighttime lights look like?

TokyoTokyoDigital camera image from the Digital camera image from the International Space Station.International Space Station.

Airborne camera data helps define both Airborne camera data helps define both spatial resolution and detection limitsspatial resolution and detection limits

Downtown Los Downtown Los Angeles.Angeles.

One and a half One and a half metermeter

resolution resolution nighttime visible nighttime visible band imagery band imagery acquired from acquired from and altitude of and altitude of 12 km by the 12 km by the NASA ER-2. NASA ER-2. Camera was Camera was

radiometrically radiometrically calibrated by calibrated by NASA- ARC.NASA- ARC.

Few observations from space focus explicitly on human activity. The NRC Decadal Survey emphasizes the need for direct observations of human activity and its impact on the Earth system.

NightSat will have extremely high strategic value to science and energy policy. Data will provide a critical spatial component for models and other satellite data required for sourcing carbon emissions, carbon trading verification, assessing global population, economic development and environmental quality.

Background – NASA initiative to fly a high resolution panchromatic / multi-spectral imager. NDGC (Chris Elvidge) developed the mission concept and is a key member of the science team.

Mission Objective – Enable assessment of energy, economic, environment and land-use policy decisions through observation of human settlements and industry.

Status – Under consideration for NASA Venture class mission.

NightSat

NightSat Observing the human energy footprint

Simulated NightSat- 50 metersDMSP- 2700 meters

SimulatedVIIRS

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The right spatial / spectral resolution to resolve & discern urban and industrial activity for assessing carbon emissions

NightSat Observing the human energy footprint

Pollution and Atmospheric CompositionPollution and Atmospheric Composition: : NightSat will provide an on-the-ground source map for NightSat will provide an on-the-ground source map for

emissions from urban and industrial areas that have a emissions from urban and industrial areas that have a major impact on atmospheric composition and local air major impact on atmospheric composition and local air

quality.quality.

Urbanization/Industry Coincide with Urbanization/Industry Coincide with NONO22 in China in China

NightSat

Observing the human energy footprint

DMSP/OLS “City Lights” OMI - NO2

Summary of NightSat Summary of NightSat RequirementsRequirements

Global coverage (polar orbiting)Global coverage (polar orbiting) ~20 day repeat cycle ~20 day repeat cycle

• Randomize lunar conditionsRandomize lunar conditions• Multiple opportunities for a cloud-free Multiple opportunities for a cloud-free

observationobservation Overpass at 8-10:00 pm local timeOverpass at 8-10:00 pm local time 50-100 m GSD 50-100 m GSD Detection limits of E-8 W/cmDetection limits of E-8 W/cm22/sr/um /sr/um

or betteror better 12 to 16 bit quantitization12 to 16 bit quantitization Thermal band(s) for cloud and fire Thermal band(s) for cloud and fire

screeningscreening Repeatable radiance calibration Repeatable radiance calibration

procedureprocedure MultispectralMultispectral