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Jarek Steliga

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Can rising air be detected visually from a distance?

All soaring pilots would be exhilerated by the possibility of locating columns of rising air visually from a distance by means of thermovision or some other technique. Can modern technology provide for this? A solution could be either to observe/detect actual temperature differences or movement of particles of dust carried by what is commonly reffered to as thermals.

Topics: infrared detection sailplanes soaring technology thermal imaging

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Lejan . 30+
- +2
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Oct 27 2012: There is a methode based on ruby lasers called Doppler LIDAR or Rayleigh Doppler LIDAR which is able to measure temperature and/or wind speed along the laser-beam by measuring the frequency of backscattered light.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/LIDAR#Meteorology_and_atmospheric_environment

There look for its application for 'Meteorology and atmospheric environment'

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=lxlSZ-SB1XQ
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=SQ4T3I3Sb3o&feature=relmfu

Also there is another methode called 'Schlieren photography', which, in a correct setup, can also produce real-time video footage and not just still-pictures.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Schlieren_photography

Due to its specific light conditions, this methode may not be adjustable to ambient sunlight, yet there might be solutions ...

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=mA98ZBdkW0M
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=lSFwH0BVd3Q
- Jarek Steliga
  - +1
  Oct 29 2012: Many thanks Lejan. I looked at all suggested links. Schlieren - wonderful as it is - does not seem viable in the discussed context due to the need of using a mirror, however LIDAR if properly developed ... who knows.

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