In 1995, NGDC researched the calibration of the OLS low light imaging data and in 1996 conducted experiments with the gain settings on the OLS and found that it would be possible to generate a radiance calibrated nighttime lights product. It was found that three gain settings are required to cover the full dynamic range of observable light from human settlements. A preliminary global product was made using 28 nights of data from 1996-97. This preliminary product does not have an atmospheric correction applied and suffers from low numbers of cloud-free observations in many parts of the world.

 

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