Influence of COVID-19 on night-time lights in Czechia

Night-Time Light (NTL) satellite imagery is widely recognized and valued as a powerful tool for spatial analysis and research. Despite its global popularity, there is absence of similar studies dealing with NTL intensity in Czechia. Using VIIRS/DNB data, our study focused on analyzing the changes in night-time light intensity before and during the coronavirus restrictions. These restrictions had a substantial impact on social and economic life, particularly during the peak of pandemic, affecting not only Czechia but also other regions worldwide. A mosaic of the study area was prepared, followed by the aggregation of the original raster data to municipalities with extended power (MEPs) and calculation of the average light index (ALI). The resulting typology made it possible to identify regional differences in NTL intensity. The main hypothesis was confirmed, it was observed that the ALIexhibited a decrease of 18% in 2020, whereas in 2021, the decline averaged at 9%.

夜间灯光（Night-Time Light, NTL）卫星影像是一种广受认可且极具价值的空间分析与研究工具。尽管其在全球范围内应用普及，但针对捷克境内夜间灯光强度的同类研究仍较为稀缺。本研究采用VIIRS/DNB数据，聚焦新冠疫情管控措施实施前后的夜间灯光强度变化。新冠疫情管控对社会与经济生活造成了显著冲击，尤其在疫情大流行高峰期，其影响不仅波及捷克，更遍及全球众多地区。本研究首先制备了研究区域的影像镶嵌图，随后将原始栅格数据聚合至扩权市镇（MEPs）尺度，并计算得到平均夜光指数（ALI）。所得分类结果可有效识别夜间灯光强度的区域差异。本研究核心假设得到验证：观测数据显示，2020年平均夜光指数下降18%，而2021年的平均降幅为9%。