Thermal modeling in the Smart Weapons Operability Enhancement program, Part II: natural terrain backgrounds with vegetation

Calculating the temperature of surfaces with vegetation poses a particular challenge due to the extreme variability that can be encountered with vegetation. This paper summarizes how the Smart Weapons Operability Enhancement (SWOE) Program is modeling the temperatures for surfaces with vegetation. The types of vegetated surfaces that can be modeled include simple vegetation, such as grasses, forests of differing densities, and individual trees. The temperatures of the vegetated surfaces are calculated using a combination of one and three dimensional heat conduction models.