Intercalibration of DMSP-OLS night-time light data by the invariant region method

Jiansheng Wuab, Shengbin Hea*, Jian Pengb, Weifeng Lic & Xiaohong Zhonga a School of Urban Planning and Design , Peking University , Shenzhen , 518055 , China b College of Urban and Environmental Sciences , Peking University , Beijing , 100871 , China c Department of Urban Planning and Design , The University of Hong Kong , Hong Kong , China * E-mail: hsb@pku.edu.cn DMSP-OLS (Defense Meteorological Satellite Program Operational Linescan System) night-time light data can accurately reflect the scope and intensity of human activities. However, the raw data cannot be used directly for temporal analyses due to the lack of inflight calibration. There are three problems that should be addressed in intercalibration. First, because of differences between sensors, the data are not identical even when obtained in the same year. Second, different acquisition times may lead to random or systematic fluctuations in the data obtained by satellites in different orbits. Third, a pixel saturation phenomenon also exists in the urban centres of the image. Therefore, an invariant region method was used in this article, and the relative radiometric calibration and saturation correction achieved the desired results. In the meantime, intercalibration models for each satellite year of DMSP-OLS night-time light data were produced. Finally, intercalibration accuracy was evaluated, and the intercalibration results were tested with the corresponding gross domestic product (GDP) data.