Journal article
Spectral‐Resolved Light at Night: TEMPO Observations and Background Correction
Earth and space science (Hoboken, N.J.), Vol.13(6), e2025EA004901
06/01/2026
DOI: 10.1029/2025EA004901
Abstract
Artificial Light at Night (ALAN) poses risks to public health and ecosystems. While long‐term remote sensing has tracked global nighttime light, spectrally resolved light at night (spectral light at night (SLAN)) data from geostationary orbit only became available with NASA's Tropospheric Emissions: Monitoring of Pollution (TEMPO) mission. Its Level 1 twilight radiance product enables detailed spatiotemporal analysis of ALAN's spectral characteristics. This study introduces algorithms for processing TEMPO Level 1 data into Level 2 SLAN data using two methods for solar background removal: scattering‐angle correction and spectral correction. The first method uses the relationship between scattering angle and radiance to suppress background, while the second uses the inherent spectral relations in the solar radiation in 290–390 nm range, where artificial light emissions are minimized, to estimate direct twilight contributions. Combined, these methods yield more stable correction results. The results are validated against two independent data sets: the Visible Infrared Imaging Radiometer Suite (VIIRS) Day/Night Band (DNB) Black Marble product and astronaut photographs taken from the International Space Station (ISS) over Houston. Comparisons include (a) city light classifications from Black Marble versus both raw and corrected TEMPO data, (b) pixel‐to‐pixel radiance measurements between TEMPO and VIIRS, and (c) spectral angle analyses between ISS and TEMPO data. We also compare CONUS nighttime light maps from VIIRS DNB, TEMPO VIS, and TEMPO UV; TEMPO VIS agrees closely with VIIRS DNB, while both diverge from TEMPO UV in gas‐flaring regions, highlighting the complementary information these instruments provide.
Details
- Title: Subtitle
- Spectral‐Resolved Light at Night: TEMPO Observations and Background Correction
- Creators
- Zhixin Xue - University of IowaMeng Zhou - University of IowaJun Wang - University of IowaQian Xiao - The University of Texas Health Science Center at HoustonJim CarrXiong Liu - Center for Astrophysics Harvard & SmithsonianHeesung Chong - Center for Astrophysics Harvard & SmithsonianJohn Houck - Center for Astrophysics Harvard & Smithsonian
- Resource Type
- Journal article
- Publication Details
- Earth and space science (Hoboken, N.J.), Vol.13(6), e2025EA004901
- DOI
- 10.1029/2025EA004901
- ISSN
- 2333-5084
- eISSN
- 2333-5084
- Publisher
- John Wiley & Sons, Inc
- Grant note
- NASA Headquarters: 80NSSC25K0221, 80NSSC21K0510, 80MSFC24CA004
We would like to thank the entire TEMPO team for providing the twilight data set. TEMPO twilight data were obtained from the NASA Langley Research Center Atmospheric Science Data Center. We also acknowledge the Earth Science and Remote Sensing Unit at NASA Johnson Space Center for the ISS photography information, NASA LAADS DAAC for the Black Marble product, and the NOAA National Centers for Environmental Information (NCEI) for the level-2 GOES cloud mask products. This work is supported by TEMPO Grant (with subcontract number SV7-87011) from Smithsonian to the University of Iowa, NASA's TEMPO/GEO-XO program (Grant. 80NSSC25K0221) and NASA's Health and Air Quality Applied Science Team (HAQST) program (Grant. 80NSSC21K0510). X.L. would like to thank NASA for funding the TEMPO mission and its operation through contracts NNL13AA09C and 80MSFC24CA004.
- Language
- English
- Date published
- 06/01/2026
- Academic Unit
- Electrical and Computer Engineering; Civil and Environmental Engineering; Iowa Technology Institute; Physics and Astronomy; Chemical and Biochemical Engineering
- Record Identifier
- 9985175352002771
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