5.16. Light and Glare
This factor refers to man‐made lighting (street lights, airfield lighting,
building lights) and glare (direct or reflected light) that disrupts vision. Light
sources from commercial, industrial, recreational, and residential uses at
night can cause excessive glare and illumination, impacting the use of
military night vision devices and flight operations. Conversely, high intensity
light sources generated from a military area (such as ramp lighting) may
have a negative impact on the adjacent community.
Enhancements in technology have made it possible for the Air Force to be
on the cutting edge of nighttime warfare. Night vision devices and other
special operations tactics are deployed to enable strategic nighttime
warfare. Thus, nighttime warfare enables the military to execute a
multi‐faceted offensive strategy under the cover of darkness. In order to be
successful in combat, the military must train under conditions and
environments similar to what is found in combat theaters. Night vision
devices allow military personnel to train in near‐daylight conditions during
nighttime hours.
Under dark sky conditions, the use of night vision goggles (NVG) allows
military personnel to view objects up to a distance of 300 meters away
(984 feet); however, lighting located nearby can decrease the
NVG effectiveness to a distance of 50 meters (164 feet) or less.
Off‐installation lighting, such as street lights or other elevated structures
that are lit at night, also produces a halo effect around objects, which
further reduces visibility and resolution for air and ground personnel. The
amount of ambient light experienced on the ground is a function of:
June 2017
intensity of nearby light sources (up to 20 miles away);
distance from the sources;
spectra of the light sources (blue light decays faster in the
atmosphere);
density of the cloud deck;
height of the cloud; and
relative humidity.
Key Terms
Glare. Glare refers to the brightness of direct or reflected light when
looking directly toward it.
Horizon Brightening. Horizon brightening refers to sky glow at the horizon.
Night Vision Device. An optical instrument that allows images to be
produced in varying levels of light approaching darkness. These devices are
often used by military and law enforcement agencies.
Light Pollution. Light pollution refers to the impact of natural or artificial
light on the natural nighttime environment. Light pollution has three
components: Sky glow, light trespass, and glare.
Light Trespass. Light trespass refers to spill light or excess light falls where it
is undesirable.
Sky Glow. Sky glow refers to the brightening of the night sky, which leads to
decreased star visibility.
Background Report
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