The Earth from Space

                                                                                         

The following is satellite imagery of a nighttime view of
earth adjusted to fit a Mercator projection. This photo was taken by the
USAF Defense Meteorological Satellites Program (DMSP) at
an altitude of approximately 800km.



A larger picture can be found at the following link courtesy of NASA Goddard:
http://antwrp.gsfc.nasa.gov/apod/image/0011/earthlights_dmsp_big.jpg


There are hundreds of analysts that examine and derive information
from photos such as these albeit much more revealing.

1. Notice the discernable gridwork pattern in the middle US
due to the large farm layouts.

2. Notice how in Central America (near the Yucatan peninsula)
the populated areas are mostly found on the west coast with
no balancing development on the east coast.

3. Notice how Canada & Australia, which approximate the US land
mass in area, show lighting that represents about one-tenth the population
of the US, which is accurate.

4. Notice the infrastructure of South Korea versus the lack of infrastructure
in North Korea as represented by the lack of lighting.

5. Notice the density of Japan and the undeveloped areas of
tundra (Alaska, Canada, Siberia, Greenland), desert(Africa) and
rain forest (South America, Borneo).

6. Notice the area from the Saudi Arabian peninsula to Northern
Afghanistan and how there are lines running from NW to SE.
I believe that these are developed lesser used remnants of the
ancient 'Silk Road'. The 7000 mile Silk Road 'proper' can also
be seen.

7. Notice the how the importance of the Nile Valley is reflected
as well as the importance of coastline and river and their
relationship to population density.

8. You can also see one of the brightest lit islands in the Pacific Ocean
is Guam which is one of the southernmost islands of the
Mariana's along the Great Mariana Trench (a very strategically important island).

9. If you look in the upper right corner of the map you'll see
the lights of Adak, Alaska vigilantly guarding it's former soviet companion
of Petropovlask on the Kamchatka peninsula.

10. The lights of Singapore are as easily seen as those of Hobart, Tasmania.

11. I believe the northernmost light represents the city of Charlottetown on
Prince Edward Island. The southernmost light seems to be the city
of Lishuaia in Argentina.

Do you know where you are?

Paul

Printed in Prometheus “Gift of Fire 148” pages 43 and 49.

About the author:
Paul F. Kisak

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