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Earth’s Nights Reveal a Patchwork of Brightening and Dimming, NASA Finds
science14 days ago

Earth’s Nights Reveal a Patchwork of Brightening and Dimming, NASA Finds

NASA’s Black Marble/VIIRS data (2014–2022) show global nighttime radiance rising 34% but with bidirectional changes: some regions brighten while others dim due to urban growth, energy use, and policy shifts. In the US, the West Coast brightened while the East Coast dimmed from LED adoption and economic restructuring; Europe also dimmed notably during the 2022 energy crisis (Paris region ~33%, UK ~22%, Netherlands ~21%). NASA’s visualizations map these patterns, highlighting how human activity and policy shape the planet’s nocturnal landscape.

via Indian Defence Review|
#energy-policy#nasa#nighttime-lights
Night Lights Uncover a World of Brightening Booms and Dimming Shifts
science16 days ago

Night Lights Uncover a World of Brightening Booms and Dimming Shifts

NASA’s Night Lights (Black Marble) maps show a nuanced 2014–2022 view: global radiance rose about 34%, but increases and decreases occur in tandem. U.S. West Coast areas brightened with growth, while parts of the East Coast dimmed as LEDs and energy shifts took hold. Internationally, China and northern India saw brightening, while Paris (33%), the UK (22%), and the Netherlands (21%) dimmed due to energy-efficiency measures; Europe’s 2022 dimming followed the Russia-Ukraine energy crisis. The data come from VIIRS sensors on Suomi-NPP, NOAA-20, and NOAA-21, and the findings were published in Nature (April 2026) with downloadable maps and animations available from NASA Earth Observatory.

via NASA Science (.gov)|
#black-marble#energy-efficiency#nighttime-lights
Global night glow up 16% since 2014, with pockets of dimming from conflict and policy
space1 month ago

Global night glow up 16% since 2014, with pockets of dimming from conflict and policy

A Nature-published study using NASA’s VIIRS satellite data finds Earth’s night-time artificial lighting brightened by about 16% from 2014 to 2022, driven mainly by developing regions such as India, China and parts of Africa, indicating rising electricity access and activity. Yet some regions dimmed due to wars, disasters, or effective energy-saving policies (e.g., Ukraine, France), producing a flickering pattern rather than uniform brightening. The results highlight regional variability and note LED lighting can affect satellite measurements, with dimming areas expanding in certain regions even as overall brightness rises.

via Space|
#energy-policy#light-pollution#night-sky-brightness
Orbiting camera spots vivid auroras over Iceland and Canada during a minor geomagnetic storm
stargazing3 months ago

Orbiting camera spots vivid auroras over Iceland and Canada during a minor geomagnetic storm

A NASA/NOAA VIIRS satellite captured grayscale aurora displays over the Denmark Strait toward Iceland and across eastern Canada during a minor G1 geomagnetic storm on Feb. 16, 2026. The article explains auroras form when solar particles are channeled by Earth's magnetic field and collide with atmospheric gases, producing greens at mid-altitudes with possible magentas and reds at higher/lower altitudes; ground observers would have seen shimmering curtains under the right conditions.

via Space|
#auroras#denmark-strait#northern-lights
Satellite View Captures Ring of Phytoplankton Around Chatham Islands
science4 months ago

Satellite View Captures Ring of Phytoplankton Around Chatham Islands

NASA's Earth Observatory captured a vibrant ring of phytoplankton encircling the remote Chatham Islands in January 2026, observed by the VIIRS instrument on NOAA-20. The bloom forms where cold, nutrient-rich Antarctic waters meet warmer subtropical waters around the Chatham Rise, supporting local fisheries and marine life, though the region is also known for whale and dolphin strandings.

via NASA Science (.gov)|
#bloom#chatham-islands#noaa-20