Nighttime light in China's coastal zone: The type classification approach using SDGSAT-1 Glimmer Imager

Nighttime Light (NTL) is highly concentrated in China's coastal zone, leading to negative health impacts on both humans and wildlife. Particularly, in recent years, the widespread adoption of broad-spectrum Light-Emitting Diode (LED) light, a low-carbon technology providing substantial increases in luminosity, has led to certain ecological consequences. Thus, information regarding spatial distribution and composition of different NTL types is essential for formulating sustainable strategies that balance nighttime public security, energy consumption, and ecosystem conservation. However, the availability of such information remains limited. To address this challenge and meet the demand, we developed two new light indices, namely the Ratio Red Light Index (RRLI) and Ratio Blue Light Index (RBLI), based on SDGSAT-1 Glimmer Imager (GLI) multispectral NTL data. We then proposed a threshold method and applied it to the entire coastal zone of China to identify White LED (WLED), Red LED (RLED), and Other lights (Other). Results showed the following. (1) In the coastal zone of China, the total lighting area was 20,517 km2, including 20,257 km2 of terrestrial lights and 260 km2 of offshore lights; (2) WLED light covered 67% (13,727 km2) of all lighting areas, while RLED lights accounted for only 1% (220 km2); (3) Guangdong had the largest lighting area (5221 km2), with the proportion of WLEDs being the highest among all coastal provinces (almost 90%); (4) The proportions of lighting areas were relatively low in Guangxi, Liaoning, and Hebei. This study represents the first attempt to identify NTL types over large regions at a finer spatial resolution. The approach proposed, including the light indices of RRLI and RBLI, as well as the defined thresholds, is universal and robust for use in NTL type classification. The developed lighting type map, containing comprehensive information on the spatial distribution and composition of NTL, could facilitate the sustainable management of China's coastal zones.