Light pollution observed by MIVIS and VIRS 200 during a nocturnal remote sensing campaign over Italy

A remote sensing campaign was performed in September 2001 at night-time in order to assess the level of optical pollution due artificial illumination due to cities and industries. Two hyperspectral sensors, namely the MIVIS and the VIRS-200, which provide a spectral coverage from the visible up to the thermal infrared, were flown over the Tuscany coast (Italy) on board of a Casa 220 airplane. The acquired images showed a maximum scene brightness almost equal to that observed during similar day-time measurements, while their average luminosity was three orders of magnitude lower. The measurements, performed under clear-sky conditions during a moonless night, confirmed that artificial illumination produces noticeable effects even at great distance from the considered sources.