Night lights in the Middle East show changes over time - Earth.com

Night lights in the Middle East show changes over time

Today’s Image of the Day comes thanks to the NASA Earth Observatory and features a look at night lights in the Middle East.

The data comes from the Visible Infrared Imaging Radiometer Suite (VIIRS) on the Suomi NPP satellite.

Night light images can be very useful in tracking population density over a geographic area. Compared to a similar image taken four years ago, the most dramatic difference is the lack of light now surrounding Aleppo, Syria as a result of the ongoing conflict. According to a report by the Voice of America, 80% of the lights in Syria have gone out over the past several years.

By Rory Arnold, Earth.com Staff Writer

Source: NASA Earth Observatory

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