EOG Satellite picture of Japan's Blackout

It might appear to be glowing with light, but this recently released image shows just how much of northern Japan was left without power the day after a powerful earthquake hit the country.

The picture is actually a composite of two satellite images, one taken in 2010 and one taken on 12 March, 2011.

The yellow colour shows where lights were detected in both years. The red lights are where lights were seen in 2010 but were not visible the day after the earthquake.

Only a handful of lights remain in operation around the city of Sendai and the ravaged coast north-east of Tokyo, which bore the brunt of the tsunami.

The image was taken by an F18 satellite as part of the NOAA EOG US Air Force Defense Meteorological Satellite Program.

Large swathes of Japan are still suffering from rolling blackouts and power cuts more than a week on from the earthquake and tsunami that devastated the country.