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Question about Thermal Imaging
#6976725
11/29/17 09:27 PM
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Joined: Dec 2004
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bassfishinglawyer
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I hunt at night by a pond from time to time. Of course the trees (in varying degrees) on the other side of the pond give off plenty of terms/heat, so they can be seen in my thermal scope and sight. But I never have understood why I can see the reflection of the trees on the water?? I would assume the water is all the same temperature, so how does this work? If this is too scientific of an answer just say so, and I'll be happy to continue ignorant on the subject - at least my brain is not stretched beyond its normal sedentary capacities trying to understand it.
I thought the best place to ask would be in the forum where thermals are utilized the most.
If this has been asked before then forgive me. Thanks.
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Re: Question about Thermal Imaging
[Re: SapperTitan]
#6976748
11/29/17 09:43 PM
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bassfishinglawyer
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I had already read this - didn't help my understanding at all unfortunately.
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Re: Question about Thermal Imaging
[Re: bassfishinglawyer]
#6976750
11/29/17 09:45 PM
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Joined: Nov 2010
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SapperTitan
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I had already read this - didn't help my understanding at all unfortunately. I couldn't figure out half of what it said but its sound very scientific lmao.
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Re: Question about Thermal Imaging
[Re: bassfishinglawyer]
#6976766
11/29/17 09:55 PM
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Joined: Nov 2011
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der Teufel
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The water reflects the heat waves radiated from the trees the same way it reflects light waves. You're not seeing the water, just the reflected heat the trees are emitting.
I have two unwritten rules: 1. 2.
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Re: Question about Thermal Imaging
[Re: bassfishinglawyer]
#6976791
11/29/17 10:19 PM
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Joined: Nov 2011
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Texas buckeye
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OK, think of the "heat signature" as IR light instead. ONce you realize that what you are gathering with a thermal imaging device is simply IR light, then it becomes much simpler to understand reflections.
Infrared light is emitted from hot sources and is emitted in all directions from the heat source. This IR light will reflect off a reflective surface the same way any kind of light would. This is why you can see a reflection on a pond, or from a window or mirror.
Hope that helps
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Re: Question about Thermal Imaging
[Re: der Teufel]
#6976835
11/29/17 10:52 PM
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bassfishinglawyer
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The water reflects the heat waves radiated from the trees the same way it reflects light waves. You're not seeing the water, just the reflected heat the trees are emitting. But if the wind is blowing any at all, it seems like the heat would be dissipated and there would be no reflection, or at least a fuzzy reflection? Oh well, lot's of things I don't totally understand.
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Re: Question about Thermal Imaging
[Re: bassfishinglawyer]
#6977042
11/30/17 01:52 AM
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der Teufel
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Light is not affected by wind. You're not seeing visible light, but the thermal emissions have the same properties. Think of an electric burner on your stove. At some point it gets so hot that it emits visible light (the dull cherry red glow you see). When it's not quite that hot, it's still emitting radiation but it's not in a visible range. It's not 'heat' per se, you can't feel it, but rather it is a form of electromagnetic radiation with properties very similar to visible light but having a longer wavelength.
I have two unwritten rules: 1. 2.
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