Thermal analysis of buried land mines over a diurnal cycle

The passive infrared (IR) imaging signature of buried mines under three different soil surface conditions is investigated in this work. The three-dimensional (3-D) nature of the mine, the site, and the temporal attributes of surrounding climate and exposed radiation are accounted for with large and moderate-scale clutter surfaces as well as a smooth surface. The effect of the short- and long-wavelength radiation as well as the convective heat transfer is incorporated in this analysis and the temporal development of the temperature distribution over a diurnal cycle is presented for different surface conditions. The occurrence of false alarm mine spots is demonstrated using the moderate scale clutter surface and a critical period of time for the landmine signature is established for different soil surface conditions. The present results show that mines buried at moderate depths in the soil would not produce a direct signature.