UAP Thermal Heatmap

Infrared (IR) radiation is a type of electromagnetic radiation with wavelengths longer than visible light but shorter than microwave radiation.

Shortwave Infrared (SWIR) specifically refers to the part of the infrared spectrum that covers wavelengths approximately between 0.9 to 3 micrometers (µm). SWIR is useful in various applications, including remote sensing, night vision, and mineral identification because it can penetrate haze, fog, and smoke.

Medium-Wave Infrared (MWIR) pertains to the part of the infrared spectrum covering wavelengths roughly between 3 to 5 µm. MWIR is sensitive to temperature differences and is often used in thermal imaging systems. For instance, heat-seeking missiles often employ MWIR sensors.

One of the challenges in UAP research is the variability in reports. If some UAPs are described as being colder than their surroundings, this would imply a unique thermal signature that could be detected with appropriate technology.

Here’s a breakdown related to the potential thermal characteristics of UAPs:

1. Thermal Imaging: Using Medium-Wave Infrared (MWIR) or Long-Wave Infrared (LWIR) detectors, one could detect temperature differences between objects and their environment. If a UAP is colder than its surroundings, it would appear darker (colder) on a thermal image when compared to a warmer background.
2. SWIR and Cold UAPs: If a UAP is colder than its surroundings and is being viewed with SWIR imaging, its temperature might not be directly detectable.
3. Environmental Interaction: If a UAP is indeed colder than its surroundings, especially water, there could be observable secondary effects. For example, a cold object interacting with warm water might produce steam or mist.
4. Radar and Other Sensors: Besides thermal imaging, UAPs are often detected with radar or other sensors that aren’t sensitive to temperature. The combined data from multiple types of sensors can provide a more comprehensive understanding of a UAP’s characteristics.
5. Spectroscopy: Analyzing the spectrum of light reflected or emitted by a UAP could provide information about its temperature and material composition. Different materials emit and absorb light differently at various temperatures, so spectroscopy could be a valuable tool in UAP investigations.

Shortwave Infrared (SWIR) range

In the Shortwave Infrared (SWIR) range, the primary mechanisms for detection are reflectance and absorption, rather than emissivity (as is typical in MWIR or LWIR for “thermal imaging”). So, when you’re using SWIR to view an object, you’re largely seeing how that object reflects or absorbs the existing SWIR radiation from its environment, not necessarily its temperature.

Here’s how cold UAP object might appear in SWIR:

1. By Reflectance: If a cold object is illuminated by a source (like the sun, which emits across a broad spectrum including SWIR), you would see it in SWIR based on how it reflects that light, not based on its temperature. Its appearance would depend on its material properties in the SWIR range.
2. Contrast with Warm Objects: If there’s a cold object adjacent to a warm object, and both are reflecting ambient SWIR radiation (e.g., from sunlight), the contrast you’d notice would come from differences in material properties and not necessarily their temperature difference. However, if the warm object is sufficiently hot to emit in the SWIR range, you might be able to see a contrast based on emission from the warmer object.
3. Absorption: If the cold object has a particular material that absorbs SWIR radiation differently than its surroundings, it could appear distinct due to those absorption characteristics.
4. Atmospheric Considerations: SWIR has the capability to penetrate certain atmospheric conditions like fog or mist better than visible light. So, a cold object that might be obscured in visible light due to such conditions could potentially be more distinguishable in SWIR.

The distinguishability of a cold object in the SWIR range would largely depend on its material properties and how it reflects and absorbs SWIR radiation from its environment, rather than its temperature per se. If you’re interested in seeing temperature differences, you’d typically use MWIR or LWIR sensors.

In the Medium-Wave Infrared (MWIR) range, which typically spans wavelengths from approximately 3 to 5 micrometers, imaging is primarily based on an object’s emissivity or its emission of infrared radiation due to its temperature.

Here’s how a cold UAP object would appear in the MWIR range:

1. Contrast Based on Temperature: In MWIR thermal imaging, hotter objects emit more radiation than cooler objects. Thus, a cold object would appear darker (indicating it’s cooler) compared to a warmer background. Conversely, if the background is colder than the object, the object would appear brighter (indicating it’s warmer).
2. Resolution and Sensitivity: Modern MWIR sensors can have high sensitivity, meaning they can differentiate between objects with very small temperature differences. This high sensitivity allows for detailed thermal imagery where subtle temperature variations can be visualized.
3. Environmental Influence: The contrast and appearance of the cold object can also be influenced by the surrounding environment. For example, a cold object in a humid environment might have condensation on its surface, which can affect its emissivity and therefore its appearance in MWIR imagery.
4. Atmospheric Absorption: The MWIR range has some atmospheric absorption, but it’s still used effectively for many thermal imaging applications, especially for closer range observations. The atmospheric effects can influence the image contrast and clarity.

The MWIR range, a cold object would be distinguishable primarily based on its temperature. It would generally appear darker than warmer objects or backgrounds, allowing for its detection and analysis. This principle is the basis for many thermal imaging systems, which are used in various applications from night vision equipment to industrial inspections.

Below are the incidents with the indicated appearance based on the released footage and the inferred temperature of the object relative to its surroundings:

1. USS Omaha UAP Incident (2019):
   • Object Color: Appears as a black sphere.
   • Temperature Inference: Colder than its surroundings.
2. USS Nimitz UFO Incident (2004):
   • Object Color: The “Tic Tac” UFO appears black.
   • Temperature Inference: Colder than its surroundings.
3. Gimbal UFO Video (2015):
   • Object Color: Appears white against the background.
   • Temperature Inference: Warmer than its surroundings.
4. GoFast Video (2015):
   • Object Color: Appears white.
   • Temperature Inference: Warmer than its surroundings.
5. Aguadilla Airport Incident (2013):
   • Object Color: The video displays the object as white.
   • Temperature Inference: Warmer than its surroundings.
6. Chilean Navy UFO Video (2014):
   • Object Color: The object in the video appears white.
   • Temperature Inference: Warmer than its surroundings, especially notable due to the plume or trail it emitted.

Remember, the color on thermal imagery (white or black) depends on the display settings and might not always represent absolute temperatures. For instance, in some settings, “hotter” objects could appear black if the display is set to “black-hot”. The interpretations above are based on the most commonly referenced versions of the released footage.