The distribution and dynamics of nighttime lights in the Mediterranean Coast Network of Southern California: Cabrillo National Monument, Channel Islands National Park, Santa Monica Mountains National Recreation Area
Gillespie TW, Willis KS, Ostermann-Kelm S, Jenkins O, Frederico F, Longcore T, Lee L, MacDonald GM. 2016. The distribution and dynamics of nighttime lights in the Mediterranean Coast Network of Southern California: Cabrillo National Monument, Channel Islands National Park, Santa Monica Mountains National Recreation Area. Natural Resource Report. NPS/MEDN/NRR—2016/1290. National Park Service. Fort Collins, Colorado
The impacts of light pollution and its fluctuations at landscape scales are a concern of public land managers. More information on the distribution, intensity, and dynamics of light pollution in na-tional parks will help improve management decisions. We examine the impacts of nighttime light on National Park Service protected areas using the Defense Meteorological Satellite Program-Operational Linescan System, which has provided annual nighttime light imagery at a 1-km pixel resolution since 1992. In particular, we examine the extent of nighttime light upward radiance or brightness in a time series from 1992 to 2012, and measure change during this period in Santa Mon-ica Mountains National Recreation Area, Channel Islands National Park, and Cabrillo National Monument. Nighttime lights have been stable in Santa Monica Mountains National Recreation Area, have decreased in Cabrillo National Monument, and are extremely low in Channel Islands National Park. However, the upward radiance or brightness values in Santa Monica Mountains National Rec-reation Area (40) and Cabrillo National Monument (28) are very high compared to other national parks. Indeed, both are comparable with the two national parks in the United States with the highest upward radiance values (Cuyahoga Valley National Park 40, Hot Springs National Park 46). Moni-toring nighttime light extent, intensity, time series, and change detection using the Defense Meteoro-logical Satellite Program-Operational Linescan System should be a standard practice for all national parks in the United States due to no cost of data and the ease at which analyses can be undertaken. There are high temporal spaceborne imagery and field based methods that can also be used to in-ventory and monitor nighttime lights. Results from this baseline report identify areas that may de-serve a high priority for nighttime light abatement, education programs, and outreach.
- Type
- Published Report
- Authors
- Gillespie, Thomas; Willis, Katherine; Ostermann-Kelm, Stacey; Jenkins, Olivia; Frederico, Felicia; Longcore, Travis; Lee, Lena; MacDonald, Glen
- Date of Issue
- 2016-09
- Publisher
- National Park Service
- Units
- CABR , CHIS , MEDN , NRSS , SAMO