Preprints
https://doi.org/10.5194/essd-2024-342
https://doi.org/10.5194/essd-2024-342
29 Aug 2024
 | 29 Aug 2024
Status: a revised version of this preprint was accepted for the journal ESSD.

A Comprehensive Global Mapping of Offshore Lighting

Christopher D. Elvidge, Tilottama Ghosh, Namrata Chatterjee, Mikhail Zhizhin, Paul C. Sutton, and Morgan Bazilian

Abstract. We present the first comprehensive multiyear global mapping of offshore lighting structures derived from low-light imaging satellite observations collected at night. The sensor is the day/night band (DNB) flown as part of the NASA/NOAA Visible Infrared Imaging Radiometer Suite (VIIRS). The product merges two operational nighttime light products: VIIRS boat detection (VBD) data and VIIRS cloud-free nighttime lights (VNL). The two products are spatially complementary, making it possible to fill gaps through a merger. Both product sets have an average DNB radiance layer, and the merger involves preserving the higher of the two average radiances. A wide range of lighting structures are present, from fishing grounds, platforms, anchorages, gas flares, transit routes, and the glow surrounding bright lighting onshore. The richness in the numbers and types of offshore lighting structures traces back to the DNB spike detector at the core of the VBD algorithm. The VNL algorithm uses outlier removal to filter out biomass burning, an essential process for mapping electric lighting onshore. The outlier removal drops about 80 % of the offshore lighting detections. We expect the new product will lead to an improved understanding of fishing grounds, offshore light pollution, and supply chain disruptions at anchorages, thereby aiding in the development of more sustainable and efficient practices.

Publisher's note: Copernicus Publications remains neutral with regard to jurisdictional claims made in the text, published maps, institutional affiliations, or any other geographical representation in this preprint. The responsibility to include appropriate place names lies with the authors.
Christopher D. Elvidge, Tilottama Ghosh, Namrata Chatterjee, Mikhail Zhizhin, Paul C. Sutton, and Morgan Bazilian

Status: final response (author comments only)

Comment types: AC – author | RC – referee | CC – community | EC – editor | CEC – chief editor | : Report abuse
  • RC1: 'Comment on essd-2024-342', Anonymous Referee #1, 25 Oct 2024
    • AC1: 'Greetings, I have revised the manuscript, addressing the points you raised. See attached. Thank you!', Christopher Elvidge, 09 Nov 2024
  • RC2: 'Comment on essd-2024-342', Anonymous Referee #2, 06 Nov 2024
    • AC2: 'Greetings, I have revised the manuscript, addressing the points you raised.', Christopher Elvidge, 09 Nov 2024
Christopher D. Elvidge, Tilottama Ghosh, Namrata Chatterjee, Mikhail Zhizhin, Paul C. Sutton, and Morgan Bazilian

Data sets

VIIRS offshore lighting spatial grids C. D. Elvidge et al. https://eogdata.mines.edu/wwwdata/downloads/Ocean_Lighting_2012_2022/

Christopher D. Elvidge, Tilottama Ghosh, Namrata Chatterjee, Mikhail Zhizhin, Paul C. Sutton, and Morgan Bazilian

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Short summary
We present a comprehensive global map of offshore lighting structures. The data are derived from low light imaging data collected nightly by the NASA/NOAA Visible Infrared Imaging Radiometer Suite (VIIRS) day / night band (DNB). The form of the structures only becomes apparent when data from one or more years are accumulated. Identifiable structures include fishing grounds, platforms, gas flares, anchorages, and transportation routes.
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