NIGHT VISION: HOW IT WORKS, HOW IT HELPS

How night vision works and what advantages it offers the al-Qaeda network It’s possible that warriors have a greater understanding of the topography, as well as the ability to traverse concealed networks of subterranean tunnels. However, as soon as darkness falls, any American forces who are now stationed in Afghanistan will have at least one advantage: they will be able to see in the dark. ‘Evidently, equipment that enables night vision is vital. It’s one of the true trump cards we have in our hand in the fight against al-Qaeda, and we’re going to use it ‘Michael O’Hanlon, a defense expert at the Brookings Institution in Washington, District of Columbia, made this statement. ‘Unless something changes, it will come down to a limited number of soldiers vs a small number of troops on each side’s own ground. This is a significant advantage, and we are going to need all the advantages we can get. ‘ During World War II, night vision equipment was developed for use by troops and pilots of the United States, the United Kingdom, and the Soviet Union. Since that time, technology has progressed from cumbersome devices that amplified light by about 1,000 times to compact equipment that can amplify any light source (including faint starlight) up to 50,000 times. Additionally, eyewear has been developed that enables soldiers to see in complete darkness (such as in caves) by detecting differences in heat. It is possible that the Taliban possess night vision technology. It is possible that members of the Taliban and al Qaeda have access to night vision technology that they have purchased in the past from other nations. For instance, in february of this year, a u.s. pilot of egyptian descent revealed to a court in new york how he flew a private plane for the saudi exile and suspected terrorist mastermind osama bin laden and smuggled in equipment from the united kingdom, including night-vision goggles. Consumers in the United States and worldwide have had access to night vision equipment for quite some time. However, it is illegal to travel outside of the United States while in possession of such technology without a valid export license. However, analysts are of the opinion that whatever equipment that al-Qaeda fighters may possess is rare and technologically inferior to that of the United States. ‘the taliban doesn’t appear to have expertise with night vision technology, ‘ said anthony cordesman, a senior scholar at the center for strategic and international studies and a military consultant for abcnews. ‘Consequently, using this apparatus confers a great deal of benefits. ‘ During the protracted struggle that the Soviet Union fought in the 1980s with Afghanistan, some people have pointed out that the Soviet Union had access to night vision technology; yet, the Soviet Union was still compelled to withdraw from that fight. However, according to cordesman, the equipment and training that the United States Armed Forces have significantly surpasses what Soviet Troops had more than 20 years ago. He said, ‘the technology is available to us. ‘ ‘therefore it’s possible that ‘we own the night’ will take on a whole new meaning. ‘ During previous nighttime bombing missions over Afghanistan, United States pilots have made use of night vision technology to help them navigate and locate their targets. Lasers that emit infrared light may also be used to illuminate objects with a light that is not visible to the human eye but can be seen by individuals who are equipped with infrared detecting gear. The infrared pictures are shown on a television screen in the cockpit, each shade representing a different temperature. According to nick cook, an aviation adviser for jane’s defense weekly, ‘being able to operate around the clock, throughout the day and the night, is crucial for the air forces because it causes huge doubt in the minds of the opponent. ‘ amplification of light, perception based on temperatures Image intensification systems and thermal imaging devices are the two primary types of night vision equipment. Even during a night that seems to be devoid of any light at all, the moon and stars continue to radiate near-infrared light. This light is made visible by a technology designed for use in the dark called night vision. Following the transformation of light into electrical energy, it is next accelerated by passing it through a microchannel plate, which is a very thin disk. Light is composed of photons. When the photons are transformed into electrons and hit a phosphorus screen, the resulting particles are seen via an eyepiece as various colors of green. According to Rich Urich, Director of Operations at Night Vision Equipment Company in Prescott Valley, Arizona, ‘the reason it’s in green is because when you put the unit down, you want your eyes to remain dilated so that you can see in dim light. ‘ ‘The reason it’s in green is because when you put the unit down, you want your eyes to remain dilated so that you can see in dim light. ‘ ‘if you use almost any other hue, you’ll notice that your pupils have shrunk once you remove the unit. ‘ The infrared technology monitors variations in heat emitted by objects that are on the order of a fraction of a degree. People, animals, and even freshly used automobiles all give out heat in the form of infrared radiation, as do all other living things and many nonliving things. In the electromagnetic spectrum, infrared radiation is a portion that may be found slightly below ( ‘infra ‘) the frequency of red light. Devices that read heat using infrared do so by absorbing light of that wavelength, turning it into a grid of video signals, and producing an image that can be seen by an observer. Especially during the winter months, Urich describes the following when looking through an infrared device: ‘you’ll see varied hues of gray or black, with the whitest segments denoting those putting out the greatest heat. ‘ There have been a number of publications that have stated that when winter approaches in Afghanistan, infrared technology will become more effective since the differences between body temperatures and the temperatures outside will become more pronounced. However, Urich contends that the contrast does not reliably improve infrared photographs, and that once snow begins to fall, the reverse is true. He claims that infrared devices have a high sensitivity to the color white. ‘the photographs may be harmed if there is snow all around, ‘ said the photographer. Infrared devices may not only be valuable to ground soldiers and pilots for vision, but they may also aid identify recent footprints or tire tracks that may still be radiating heat. This can be done because recent footprints or tire tracks may still be emitting heat. Even things that have just been touched lately, like a door or a desk, might reveal signs of the recent activity that occurred on or around them. Infrared technology has found several additional uses than its usage in the military that have shown to be beneficial. Ranchers use it to hunt nocturnal predators such as coyotes, law enforcement uses it to identify criminals working at night, border patrol uses it to monitor for illegal crossings, and drivers in certain specially-fitted autos use it to improve their eyesight when driving at night. The technique may also assist in the creation of a thermal picture of a house, which can be used to locate air leaks and enhance insulation.