It is not the light of modern incandescent lamps, it is human pollution.
If you looked from space with the naked eye, you would hardly be able to see any traces of the emissions emitted by fuel consumption. Luckily, Descartes Labs just released a new data analysis that lets you see what your eyes can’t.
And unfortunately, these images make us think about what industry vehicles still emit on the road.
The silver lines and patches indicate the release of nitrate dioxide, a gas released from fuel consumption and also responsible for acid rain, toxic smog, and lung disease. It is true that nitro-dioxide can come from natural sources, but it is the man-made sources that create the disturbing silver spots.
Gasoline vehicles, fuel plants, and large construction sites can all push more nitro dioxide into the air. Forest fires, slash-and-burn agriculture or any act of straw burning also contribute to air pollution. Simply put, the silver dots on the map indicate where the burn is taking place.