What limitation does infrared imaging face regarding visibility during the day?

Infrared imaging can be significantly affected by excessive sunlight, as it can create a phenomenon known as "solar glare." This glare overwhelms the infrared sensors, leading to reduced image quality and clarity. The infrared spectrum operates at wavelengths longer than visible light, but direct sunlight can produce noise and other disturbances that interfere with the sensor's ability to capture relevant thermal information.

While infrared imaging does not exclusively provide night-time imagery, and it can function during sunny weather, the quality of the data collected during such conditions is compromised. Compared to the well-defined thermal signatures that can be observed at night or in overcast conditions, sunny days can result in misleading or unclear images due to the overwhelming brightness and thermal noise caused by solar radiation. Thus, the limitation primarily lies in the challenge presented by excessive sunlight, making it difficult for infrared systems to capture accurate and high-quality images during the day.