NOAA POSTS IMAGES ONLINE OF NORTHEAST BLACKOUT

Aug. 15, 2003 — NOAA today posted online satellite images taken before and after of the historic blackout of the Northeastern United States, which plunged millions of people into darkness. NOAA processed the night lights data taken by the Defense Meteorological Satellite Program (DMSP). NOAA archives the data from the satellite. (Click NOAA image for larger view of blackout in the Northeastern USA taken Aug. 14, 2003, at 9:03 p.m. EDT. Click here for higher resolution version, which is a large file. [Click here for 2160 x 1620 version.] NOAA processed the data from the Defense Meteorological Satellite Program. Please credit NOAA/DMSP.)

(Click NOAA image for larger view of night lights before the blackout in the Northeastern USA taken Aug. 13, 2003, at 9:21 p.m. EDT. Click here for higher resolution version, which is a large file. [Click here for 2160 x 1620 version.] NOAA processed the data from the Defense Meteorological Satellite Program. Please credit NOAA/DMSP.)

NOAA also has available a USA night lights cloud-free composite image taken by the DMSP from Oct. 1, 1994, to March 31, 1995. NOAA processed the data from the Defense Meteorological Satellite. (Click NOAA image for larger view of a cloud-free composite of USA night lights taken from Oct. 1, 1994, to March 31, 1995. NOAA processed the data taken by the Defense Meteorological Defense Program. Click here for higher resolution version, which is a large file. Please credit NOAA/DMSP.)

The following two images measure 1920 pixels x 1200 pixels.

The following images were processed by the Air Force Weather Agency. There are two versions of each image, with and without annotations.

Please credit the following images to the Air Force Weather Agency or AFWA. They processed the images using the DMSP. The images measure 959 x 719.

Night Lights satellite image about 20 hours before the blackout taken Aug. 13, 2003.

With annotations
http://www.magazine.noaa.gov/nightlights/blackout081403-20hrsbefore-text.jpg

Without annotations
http://www.magazine.noaa.gov/nightlights/blackout081403-20hrsbefore.jpg

Night Lights satellite image about seven hours after the blackout.

With annotations
http://www.magazine.noaa.gov/nightlights/blackout081503-7hrsafter-text.jpg

Without annotations
http://www.magazine.noaa.gov/nightlights/blackout081503-7hrsafter.jpg

NOAA is dedicated to enhancing economic security and national safety through the prediction and research of weather and climate-related events and providing environmental stewardship of the nation’s coastal and marine resources. NOAA is part of the U.S. Department of Commerce.

Relevant Web Sites
NOAA Environmental Visualization Lab

NOAA Satellites

Media Contact:
Greg Hernandez, NOAA, (202) 482-3091