Monthly average radiance composite images using nighttime data from the Visible Infrared Imaging Radiometer Suite (VIIRS) Day/Night Band (DNB).
As these data are composited monthly, there are many areas of the globe where it is impossible to get good quality data coverage for that month. This can be due to cloud cover, especially in the tropical regions, or due to solar illumination, as happens toward the poles in their respective summer months. Therefore it is recommended that users of these data utilize the 'cf_cvg' band and not assume a value of zero in the average radiance image means that no lights were observed.
Cloud cover is determined using the VIIRS Cloud Mask product (VCM). In addition, data near the edges of the swath are not included in the composit