Evaluating the Influence of Aerosol Optical Depth on Satellite-Derived Nighttime Light Radiance in Asian Megacities.

Saved in:
Bibliographic Details
Title: Evaluating the Influence of Aerosol Optical Depth on Satellite-Derived Nighttime Light Radiance in Asian Megacities.
Authors: Park, Hyeryeong1 (AUTHOR), Kim, Jaemin2 (AUTHOR), Lee, Yun Gon3 (AUTHOR) yglee2@cnu.ac.kr
Source: Remote Sensing. Oct2025, Vol. 17 Issue 20, p3492. 19p.
Subjects: Atmospheric aerosols, Radiance, Satellite-based remote sensing, Urbanization, Spatiotemporal processes, Aerosol analysis, Socioeconomic factors, Cities & towns
Geographic Terms: Tokyo (Japan), Beijing (China)
Abstract: Highlights: What are the main findings?  East Asian cities exhibit a significant inverse relationship where nighttime artificial light (NTL) radiance decreases as aerosol optical depth (AOD) increases. The strength and nature of this NTL-AOD dependency vary considerably across cities, influenced by diverse urban development levels and regional atmospheric aerosol characteristics. What is the implication of the main finding?  Accurate urban socio-economic monitoring using NTL data requires rigorous atmospheric correction to account for pronounced atmospheric effects from aerosols. Region-specific atmospheric correction models are essential for the reliable interpretation of NTL as an urbanization proxy. The Visible Infrared Imaging Radiometer Suite (VIIRS) Day/Night Band (DNB) provides invaluable nighttime light (NTL) radiance data, widely employed for diverse applications including urban and socioeconomic studies. However, the inherent reliability of NTL data as a proxy for socioeconomic activities is significantly compromised by atmospheric conditions, particularly aerosols. This study analyzed the long-term spatiotemporal variations in NTL radiance with respect to atmospheric aerosol optical depth (AOD) in nine major Asian cities from January 2012 to May 2021. Our findings reveal a complex and heterogeneous interplay between NTL radiance and AOD, fundamentally influenced by a region's unique atmospheric characteristics and developmental stages. While major East Asian cities (e.g., Beijing, Tokyo, Seoul) exhibited a statistically significant inverse correlation, indicating aerosol-induced NTL suppression, other regions showed different patterns. For instance, the rapidly urbanizing city of Dhaka displayed a statistically significant positive correlation, suggesting a concurrent increase in NTL and AOD due to intensified urban activities. This highlights that the NTL-AOD relationship is not solely a physical phenomenon but is also shaped by independent socioeconomic processes. These results underscore the critical importance of comprehensively understanding these regional discrepancies for the reliable interpretation and effective reconstruction of NTL radiance data. By providing nuanced insights into how atmospheric aerosols influence NTL measurements in diverse urban settings, this research aims to enhance the utility and robustness of satellite-derived NTL data for effective socioeconomic analyses. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]
Copyright of Remote Sensing is the property of MDPI and its content may not be copied or emailed to multiple sites without the copyright holder's express written permission. Additionally, content may not be used with any artificial intelligence tools or machine learning technologies. However, users may print, download, or email articles for individual use. This abstract may be abridged. No warranty is given about the accuracy of the copy. Users should refer to the original published version of the material for the full abstract. (Copyright applies to all Abstracts.)
Database: Engineering Source
Full text is not displayed to guests.
FullText Links:
  – Type: pdflink
Text:
  Availability: 1
Header DbId: egs
DbLabel: Engineering Source
An: 188952422
AccessLevel: 6
PubType: Academic Journal
PubTypeId: academicJournal
PreciseRelevancyScore: 0
IllustrationInfo
Items – Name: Title
  Label: Title
  Group: Ti
  Data: Evaluating the Influence of Aerosol Optical Depth on Satellite-Derived Nighttime Light Radiance in Asian Megacities.
– Name: Author
  Label: Authors
  Group: Au
  Data: <searchLink fieldCode="AR" term="%22Park%2C+Hyeryeong%22">Park, Hyeryeong</searchLink><relatesTo>1</relatesTo> (AUTHOR)<br /><searchLink fieldCode="AR" term="%22Kim%2C+Jaemin%22">Kim, Jaemin</searchLink><relatesTo>2</relatesTo> (AUTHOR)<br /><searchLink fieldCode="AR" term="%22Lee%2C+Yun+Gon%22">Lee, Yun Gon</searchLink><relatesTo>3</relatesTo> (AUTHOR)<i> yglee2@cnu.ac.kr</i>
– Name: TitleSource
  Label: Source
  Group: Src
  Data: <searchLink fieldCode="JN" term="%22Remote+Sensing%22">Remote Sensing</searchLink>. Oct2025, Vol. 17 Issue 20, p3492. 19p.
– Name: Subject
  Label: Subjects
  Group: Su
  Data: <searchLink fieldCode="DE" term="%22Atmospheric+aerosols%22">Atmospheric aerosols</searchLink><br /><searchLink fieldCode="DE" term="%22Radiance%22">Radiance</searchLink><br /><searchLink fieldCode="DE" term="%22Satellite-based+remote+sensing%22">Satellite-based remote sensing</searchLink><br /><searchLink fieldCode="DE" term="%22Urbanization%22">Urbanization</searchLink><br /><searchLink fieldCode="DE" term="%22Spatiotemporal+processes%22">Spatiotemporal processes</searchLink><br /><searchLink fieldCode="DE" term="%22Aerosol+analysis%22">Aerosol analysis</searchLink><br /><searchLink fieldCode="DE" term="%22Socioeconomic+factors%22">Socioeconomic factors</searchLink><br /><searchLink fieldCode="DE" term="%22Cities+%26+towns%22">Cities & towns</searchLink>
– Name: SubjectGeographic
  Label: Geographic Terms
  Group: Su
  Data: <searchLink fieldCode="DE" term="%22Tokyo+%28Japan%29%22">Tokyo (Japan)</searchLink><br /><searchLink fieldCode="DE" term="%22Beijing+%28China%29%22">Beijing (China)</searchLink>
– Name: Abstract
  Label: Abstract
  Group: Ab
  Data: Highlights: What are the main findings?  East Asian cities exhibit a significant inverse relationship where nighttime artificial light (NTL) radiance decreases as aerosol optical depth (AOD) increases. The strength and nature of this NTL-AOD dependency vary considerably across cities, influenced by diverse urban development levels and regional atmospheric aerosol characteristics. What is the implication of the main finding?  Accurate urban socio-economic monitoring using NTL data requires rigorous atmospheric correction to account for pronounced atmospheric effects from aerosols. Region-specific atmospheric correction models are essential for the reliable interpretation of NTL as an urbanization proxy. The Visible Infrared Imaging Radiometer Suite (VIIRS) Day/Night Band (DNB) provides invaluable nighttime light (NTL) radiance data, widely employed for diverse applications including urban and socioeconomic studies. However, the inherent reliability of NTL data as a proxy for socioeconomic activities is significantly compromised by atmospheric conditions, particularly aerosols. This study analyzed the long-term spatiotemporal variations in NTL radiance with respect to atmospheric aerosol optical depth (AOD) in nine major Asian cities from January 2012 to May 2021. Our findings reveal a complex and heterogeneous interplay between NTL radiance and AOD, fundamentally influenced by a region's unique atmospheric characteristics and developmental stages. While major East Asian cities (e.g., Beijing, Tokyo, Seoul) exhibited a statistically significant inverse correlation, indicating aerosol-induced NTL suppression, other regions showed different patterns. For instance, the rapidly urbanizing city of Dhaka displayed a statistically significant positive correlation, suggesting a concurrent increase in NTL and AOD due to intensified urban activities. This highlights that the NTL-AOD relationship is not solely a physical phenomenon but is also shaped by independent socioeconomic processes. These results underscore the critical importance of comprehensively understanding these regional discrepancies for the reliable interpretation and effective reconstruction of NTL radiance data. By providing nuanced insights into how atmospheric aerosols influence NTL measurements in diverse urban settings, this research aims to enhance the utility and robustness of satellite-derived NTL data for effective socioeconomic analyses. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]
– Name: AbstractSuppliedCopyright
  Label:
  Group: Ab
  Data: <i>Copyright of Remote Sensing is the property of MDPI and its content may not be copied or emailed to multiple sites without the copyright holder's express written permission. Additionally, content may not be used with any artificial intelligence tools or machine learning technologies. However, users may print, download, or email articles for individual use. This abstract may be abridged. No warranty is given about the accuracy of the copy. Users should refer to the original published version of the material for the full abstract.</i> (Copyright applies to all Abstracts.)
PLink https://search.ebscohost.com/login.aspx?direct=true&site=eds-live&db=egs&AN=188952422
RecordInfo BibRecord:
  BibEntity:
    Identifiers:
      – Type: doi
        Value: 10.3390/rs17203492
    Languages:
      – Code: eng
        Text: English
    PhysicalDescription:
      Pagination:
        PageCount: 19
        StartPage: 3492
    Subjects:
      – SubjectFull: Atmospheric aerosols
        Type: general
      – SubjectFull: Radiance
        Type: general
      – SubjectFull: Satellite-based remote sensing
        Type: general
      – SubjectFull: Urbanization
        Type: general
      – SubjectFull: Spatiotemporal processes
        Type: general
      – SubjectFull: Aerosol analysis
        Type: general
      – SubjectFull: Socioeconomic factors
        Type: general
      – SubjectFull: Cities & towns
        Type: general
      – SubjectFull: Tokyo (Japan)
        Type: general
      – SubjectFull: Beijing (China)
        Type: general
    Titles:
      – TitleFull: Evaluating the Influence of Aerosol Optical Depth on Satellite-Derived Nighttime Light Radiance in Asian Megacities.
        Type: main
  BibRelationships:
    HasContributorRelationships:
      – PersonEntity:
          Name:
            NameFull: Park, Hyeryeong
      – PersonEntity:
          Name:
            NameFull: Kim, Jaemin
      – PersonEntity:
          Name:
            NameFull: Lee, Yun Gon
    IsPartOfRelationships:
      – BibEntity:
          Dates:
            – D: 15
              M: 10
              Text: Oct2025
              Type: published
              Y: 2025
          Identifiers:
            – Type: issn-print
              Value: 20724292
          Numbering:
            – Type: volume
              Value: 17
            – Type: issue
              Value: 20
          Titles:
            – TitleFull: Remote Sensing
              Type: main
ResultId 1