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Effective visibility in the infrared bands
Applied Optics
|August 13, 2026
Summary
This study introduces infrared effective visibility using near-IR, shortwave IR, and extended shortwave IR bands. Rule-of-thumb functions were developed to compare infrared and visible spectrum imaging conditions globally.
Area of Science:
- Atmospheric optics
- Remote sensing
- Radiometry
Background:
- Visibility is a key atmospheric metric, crucial for terrestrial imaging.
- Current visibility definitions are limited to the visible spectrum, lacking direct infrared equivalents.
- Developing infrared effective visibility is essential for advanced imaging system design.
Purpose of the Study:
- To compare near-IR (NIR), shortwave IR (SWIR), and extended shortwave IR (eSWIR) bands against the visible spectrum.
- To develop rule-of-thumb functions for estimating infrared effective visibility.
- To enable rapid evaluation of infrared wavebands for imaging system trade studies.
Main Methods:
- Utilized a radiometric sensor model integrated with the Laser Environmental Effects Definition and Reference (LEEDR) software.
- Calculated target visibility through range across a global dataset of cities.
- Compared visibility metrics across visible and three distinct infrared wavebands.
Main Results:
- Developed three distinct rule-of-thumb functions for infrared effective visibility.
- Quantified the relationship between visible and infrared band visibility.
- Demonstrated the applicability of these functions across diverse geographic locations.
Conclusions:
- The developed functions provide a practical method for assessing infrared effective visibility.
- These tools facilitate efficient trade studies for new imaging system development.
- Infrared effective visibility offers a valuable metric for understanding atmospheric imaging conditions beyond the visible spectrum.
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