What are 

Infrared Waves?
Infrared waves, or infrared light, are part of the electromagnetic spectrum. People encounter
Infrared waves every day; the human eye cannot see it, but humans can detect it as heat. 
A remote control uses light waves just beyond the visible spectrum of light—infrared light waves
—to change channels on your TV. This region of the spectrum is divided into near-, mid-, and
far-infrared. The region from 8 to 15 microns (µm) is referred to by Earth scientists as thermal
infrared since these wavelengths are best for studying the longwave thermal energy radiating
from our planet.

LEFT: A typical television remote control uses infrared energy at a wavelength around940
nanometers. While you cannot "see" the light emitting from a remote, some digitaland cell phone
cameras are sensitive to that wavelength of radiation. Try it out!RIGHT: Infrared lamps heat
lamps often emit both visible and infrared energy atwavelengths between 500nm to 3000nm in
length. They can be used to heat bathroomsor keep food warm. Heat lamps can also keep small
animals and reptiles warm oreven to keep eggs warm so they can hatch.
 

Credit: Troy Benesch

DISCOVERY OF INFRARED
In 1800, William Herschel conducted an experiment measuring the difference in temperature
between the colors in the visible spectrum. He placed thermometers within each color of the
visible spectrum. The results showed an increase in temperature from blue to red. When he
noticed an even warmer temperature measurement just beyond the red end of the visible
spectrum, Herschel had discovered infrared light!
THERMAL IMAGING
We can sense some infrared energy as heat. Some objects are so hot they also emit visible light
—such as a fire does. Other objects, such as humans, are not as hot and only emit only infrared
waves. Our eyes cannot see these infrared waves but instruments that can sense infrared energy
—such as night-vision goggles or infrared cameras–allow us to "see" the infrared waves emitting
from warm objects such as humans and animals. The temperatures for the images below are in
degrees Fahrenheit.
Credit: NASA/JPL-Caltech
 
COOL ASTRONOMY
Many objects in the universe are too cool and faint to be detected in visible light but can be
detected in the infrared. Scientists are beginning to unlock the mysteries of cooler objects across
the universe such as planets, cool stars, nebulae, and many more, by studying the infrared waves
they emit.
The Cassini spacecraft captured this image of Saturn's aurora using infrared waves. The aurora is
shown in blue, and the underlying clouds are shown in red. These aurorae are unique because
they can cover the entire pole, whereas aurorae around Earth and Jupiter are typically confined
by magnetic fields to rings surrounding the magnetic poles. The large and variable nature of
these aurorae indicates that charged particles streaming in from the Sun are experiencing some
type of magnetism above Saturn that was previously unexpected.

SEEING THROUGH DUST

Infrared waves have longer wavelengths than visible light and can pass through dense regions of
gas and dust in space with less scattering and absorption. Thus, infrared energy can also reveal
objects in the universe that cannot be seen in visible light using optical telescopes. The James
Webb Space Telescope (JWST) has three infrared instruments to help study the origins of the
universe and the formation of galaxies, stars, and planets.
When we look up at the constellation Orion, we see only the visible light. But NASA'sSpitzer
space telescope was able to detect nearly 2,300 planet-forming disks in theOrion nebula by
sensing the infrared glow of their warm dust. Each disk has thepotential to form planets and its
own solar system.Credit: Thomas Megeath(Univ. Toledo) et al., JPL, Caltech, NASA
 
A pillar composed of gas and dust in the Carina Nebula is illuminated by the glow from nearby
massive stars shown below in the visible light image from the Hubble Space Telescope. Intense
radiation and fast streams of charged particles from these stars are causing new stars to form
within the pillar. Most of the new stars cannot be seen in the visible-light image (left) because
dense gas clouds block their light. However, when the pillar is viewed using the infrared portion
of the spectrum (right), it practically disappears, revealing the baby stars behind the column of
gas and dust.

Credit: NASA, ESA, and the Hubble SM4 ERO Team

 
MONITORING THE EARTH
To astrophysicists studying the universe, infrared sources such as planets are relatively cool
compared to the energy emitted from hot stars and other celestial objects. Earth scientists study
infrared as the thermal emission (or heat) from our planet. As incident solar radiation hits Earth,
some of this energy is absorbed by the atmosphere and the surface, thereby warming the planet.
This heat is emitted from Earth in the form of infrared radiation. Instruments onboard Earth
observing satellites can sense this emitted infrared radiation and use the resulting measurements
to study changes in land and sea surface temperatures.
There are other sources of heat on the Earth's surface, such as lava flows and forest fires. The
Moderate Resolution Imaging Spectroradiometer (MODIS) instrument onboard the Aqua and
Terra satellites uses infrared data to monitor smoke and pinpoint sources of forest fires. This
information can be essential to firefighting efforts when fire reconnaissance planes are unable to
fly through the thick smoke. Infrared data can also enable scientists to distinguish flaming fires
from still-smoldering burn scars.
Credit: Jeff Schmaltz, MODIS Rapid Response Team
 
The global image on the right is an infrared image of the Earth taken by the GOES 6 satellite in
1986. A scientist used temperatures to determine which parts of the image were from clouds and
which were land and sea. Based on these temperature differences, he colored each separately
using 256 colors, giving the image a realistic appearance.

Credit: Space Science and Engineering Center,University of Wisconsin-Madison, Richard Kohrs,

designer
 
Why use the infrared to image the Earth? While it is easier to distinguish clouds from land in the
visible range, there is more detail in the clouds in the infrared. This is great for studying cloud
structure. For instance, note that darker clouds are warmer, while lighter clouds are cooler.
Southeast of the Galapagos, just west of the coast of South America, there is a place where you
can distinctly see multiple layers of clouds, with the warmer clouds at lower altitudes, closer to
the ocean that's warming them.
We know, from looking at an infrared image of a cat, that many things emit infrared light. But
many things also reflect infrared light, particularly near infrared light. Learn more
about REFLECTED Near-infrared radiation.

NEAR INFRARED RADIATION

A portion of radiation that is just beyond the visible spectrum is referred to as near-infrared.
Rather than studying an object's emission of infrared, scientists can study how objects reflect,
transmit, and absorb the Sun's near-infrared radiation to observe health of vegetation and soil
composition.
HEALTHY VEGETATION
Our eyes perceive a leaf as green because wavelengths in the green region of the spectrum are
reflected by pigments in the leaf, while the other visible wavelengths are absorbed. In addition,
the components in plants reflect, transmit, and absorb different portions of the near-infrared
radiation that we cannot see.
Reflected near-infrared radiation can be sensed by satellites, allowing scientists to study
vegetation from space. Healthy vegetation absorbs blue- and red-light energy to fuel
photosynthesis and create chlorophyll. A plant with more chlorophyll will reflect more near-
infrared energy than an unhealthy plant. Thus, analyzing a plants spectrum of both absorption
and reflection in visible and in infrared wavelengths can provide information about the plants'
health and productivity.

Credit: Jeff Carns

 
INFRARED FILM
Color Infrared film can record near-infrared energy and can help scientists study plant diseases
where there is a change in pigment and cell structure. These two images show the difference
between a color infrared photo and a natural color photo of trees in a park.

Credit: Ginger Butcher

 
SPECTRAL SIGNATURES OF VEGETATION
Data from scientific instruments can provide more precise measurements than analog film.
Scientists can graph the measurements, examine the unique patterns of absorption and reflection
of visible and infrared energy, and use this information to identify types of plants. The graph
below shows the differences among the spectral signatures of corn, soybeans, and Tulip Poplar
trees.

Credit: Eric Brown de Colstoun

 
ASSESSING VEGETATION FROM SPACE
Data and imagery from the U.S. Geological Service (USGS) and NASA Landsat series of
satellites are used by the U.S. Department of Agriculture to forecast agricultural productivity
each growing season. Satellite data can help farmers pinpoint where crops are infested, stressed,
or healthy.

Near-infrared data collected by the Landsat 7 satellite, such as this image of Minnesota,can help
farmers assess the health of their crops. Shades of red in this image indicategood crop health, and
yellow colors reveal where crops are infested.Credit: Jesse Allen, using Landsat data provided by
the United States Geological Survey
 
SOIL COMPOSITION
Near-infrared data can also help identify types of rock and soil. This image of the Saline Valley
area in California was acquired by the Advanced Spaceborne Thermal Emission and Reflection
Radiometer (ASTER) onboard NASA's Terra satellite.
Data from ASTER's visible and near-infrared bands at 0.81 µm, 0.56 µm, and .66 µm are
composited in red, green, and blue creating the false-color image below. Vegetation appears red,
snow and dry salt lakes are white, and exposed rocks are brown, gray, yellow, and blue. Rock
colors mainly reflect the presence of iron minerals and variations in albedo (solar energy
reflected off the surface).

Credit: NASA, GSFC, MITI, ERSDAC, JAROS, and the U.S./Japan ASTER Science Team
 
PLANETS IN NEAR-INFRARED
This false-color composite of Jupiter combines near-infrared and visible-light data of sunlight
reflected from Jupiter's clouds. Since methane gas in Jupiter's atmosphere limits the penetration
of sunlight, the amount of reflected near-infrared energy varies depending on the clouds' altitude.
The resulting composite image shows this altitude difference as different colors. Yellow colors
indicate high clouds; red colors are lower clouds; and blue colors show even lower clouds in
Jupiter's atmosphere. The Near Infrared Camera and Multi-Object Spectrometer (NICMOS)
onboard NASA's Hubble Space Telescope captured this image at the time of a rare alignment of
three of Jupiter's largest moons—Io, Ganymede, and Callisto—across the planet's face.

Credit: NASA and E. Karkoschka (University of Arizona)

Things you need to know about infrared technology

The infrared spectrum is actually divided in 5 categories: Near Infrared, which includes
electronic equipment like remote controls and mobile phones, Short Wavelength Infrared which
is being used predominantly for long distance telecommunication, Mid Wavelength Infrared
which is used in guided missile technology, Long Wavelength Infrared that it is used for thermal
imaging, and Far Infrared, which is actually experienced by us in the form of thermal energy.
There are without a doubt other uses as well, and we are going to talk a bit about the most
popular ones these days.

Infrared heaters
Infrared heaters are absolutely great. They are highly appreciated by consumers all over the
world due to their efficiency. This type of device is actually a body with a higher temperature
that can transfer energy to a body with a much lower temperature. It does that through the
electromagnetic radiation. Depending on the temperature that the emitting body has, the
wavelength of the peak of the infrared radiation usually ranges from 780 nm to 1 mm. Infrared
heaters do not represent any danger whatsoever, and they are extremely safe to use around
children and pets as well, not to talk about the fact that they quickly produce the desired heat.
Some of these models are energy efficient as well. All in all, this is without a doubt one of the
best uses of infrared technology in your everyday life.

Infrared saunas
These units are without a doubt an effective tool for natural healing and prevention as well.
Infrared light has a great ability to deeply penetrate your tissue which in turn will produce a host
of anti-aging, making this way, an infrared sauna, one of the best home therapies for overall
healthier living. The infrared heat is actually very gentle, soothing and therapeutic as well, and it
promotes relaxation and it can also highly improve your sleep. Infrared sauna benefits include
therapy that helps you experience a deep relaxation, while you receive an invigorating deep
tissue sweat. At the end of the sauna session, you will be fully refreshed and much healthier as
well.
Areas of Use
Heating
Infrared radiation can be used as a heating source. Several studies have looked at using infrared
saunas in the treatment of chronic health problems, such as high blood pressure, congestive heart
failure and rheumatoid arthritis, and found some evidence of benefit. For example it is used in
infrared saunas to heat the occupants, and also to remove ice from the wings of aircraft (de-
icing). Far infrared is also gaining popularity as a safe heat therapy method of natural health care
and physiotherapy. Infrared can be used in cooking and heating food as it predominantly heats
the opaque, absorbent objects, rather than the air around them. Infrared heating is also becoming
more popular in industrial manufacturing processes, e.g. curing of coatings, forming of plastics,
annealing, plastic welding, print drying. In these applications, infrared heaters replace convection
ovens and contact heating. Infrared heaters produce heat that is a product of invisible light and
they consist of three parts: infrared light bulbs, a heat exchanger and a fan that blows air onto the
exchanger to disperse the heat. Efficiency is achieved by matching the wavelength of the infrared
heater to the absorption characteristics of the material. Infrared heaters are commonly used in
infrared modules (or emitter banks) combining several heaters to achieve larger heated
areas. Infrared heaters are usually classified by the wavelength they emit: Near infrared (NIR) or
short-wave infrared heaters operate at high filament temperatures above 1800 °C and when
arranged in a field reach high power densities of some hundreds of kW/m2. Their peak
wavelength is well below the absorption spectrum for water, making them unsuitable for many
drying applications. They are well suited for heating of silica where a deep penetration is needed.
Medium-wave and carbon (CIR) infrared heaters operate at filament temperatures of around
1000 °C. They reach maximum power densities of up to 60 kW/m2 (medium-wave) and 150
kW/m2 (CIR). Far infrared emitters (FIR) are typically used in the so-called low-temperature far
infrared saunas. These constitute only the higher and more expensive range of the market of
infrared sauna. Instead of using carbon, quartz or high watt ceramic emitters, which emit near
and medium infrared radiation, heat and light, far infrared emitters use low watt ceramic plates
that remain cold, while still emitting far infrared radiation.
Cosmetic application
Infrared rays penetrate the skin up to 3-4 mm, they warm human body and mainly the skin by
stimulating blood circulation, consequently the supply of nutrients and oxygen to the skin cells
improves significantly hence the overall condition of the skin. By warming skin deep, increases
the secretion of sweat. As a result of this process accelerates the release of dead cells appear to
harmful toxins from the body, helps in weight loss, improves ease of digestion of fatty tissue,
skin pores open and purify many easier and faster, and acquires increased skin elasticity and
smoothness. Under constant exposure to infrared radiation largely reducing the occurrence of
various skin problems, such as dandruff, acne, blackheads, etc. Infrared rays procedures are
applied in a treatment of psoriasis, eczema, smoothing of wrinkles, joint diseases, skin injuries,
etc.
Infrared rays and massage
In massage is often used initially warming with infrared heat. The infrared rays warm skin 
directly and relax the muscles, which favors quality massage. Warmed muscle and tissue lead to
relaxation of the body and this kind of massage has a lasting and effective effect. Thanks to the
massage blood circulation improves, stress and fatigue reduce, concentration increases, all
processes in the body accelerate = improved health.
Infrared Communication
IR data transmission is also employed in short-range communication among computer
peripherals and personal digital assistants. These devices usually conform to standards published
by IrDA, the Infrared Data Association. Remote controls and IrDA devices use infrared light-
emitting diodes (LEDs) to emit infrared radiation which is focused by a plastic lens into a narrow
beam. The beam is modulated, i.e. switched on and off, to encode the data. The receiver uses a
silicon photodiode to convert the infrared radiation to an electric current. It responds only to the
rapidly pulsing signal created by the transmitter, and filters out slowly changing infrared
radiation from ambient light. Infrared communications are useful for indoor use in areas of high
population density. IR does not penetrate walls and so does not interfere with other devices in
adjoining rooms. Infrared is the most common way for remote controls to command appliances.
Infrared remote control protocols like RC-5, SIRC, are used to communicate with infrared.
Infrared Photography
In infrared photography, infrared filters are used to capture the near-infrared spectrum. Digital
cameras often use infrared blockers. Cheaper digital cameras and camera phones have less
effective filters and can “see” intense near-infrared, appearing as a bright purple-white color.
This is especially pronounced when taking pictures of subjects near IR-bright areas (such as near
a lamp), where the resulting infrared interference can wash out the image. There is also a
technique called ‘T-ray’ imaging, which is imaging using far-infrared or terahertz radiation. Lack
of bright sources makes terahertz photography technically more challenging than most other
infrared imaging techniques. Recently T-ray imaging has been of considerable interest due to a
number of new developments such as terahertz time-domain spectroscopy.
Astronomy
Astronomers observe objects in the infrared portion of the electromagnetic spectrum using
optical components, including mirrors, lenses and solid state digital detectors. For this reason it
is classified as part of optical astronomy. To form an image, the components of an infrared
telescope need to be carefully shielded from heat sources, and the detectors are chilled using
liquid helium.

Infrared Radiation

[BACK]
What is infrared radiation?
Infrared (IR) radiation is simply one of the many types of 'light' that comprise the
electromagnetic (EM) spectrum. Infrared light is characterized by wavelengths that are longer
than visible light (4000-7000 Angstroms, or 0.4 0.7 micrometers; also denoted as microns).
Astronomers generally divide the infrared portion of the EM spectrum into three regions: near-
infrared (0.7 5 microns), mid-infrared (5 30 microns) and far-infrared (30 1000 microns).
Who discovered infrared light, and when did the discovery occur?
The famous astronomer William Herschel, who also discovered the first new planet since
antiquity (Uranus) and studied sunspots, was the first to discover a form of light other than
visible (optical). In an 1800 experiment, Herschel used a glass prism to spread sunlight into a
rainbow of colors. He then measured the temperature of each color of visible light and noted
differences. Most intriguingly, he found a curious reading when the thermometer bulb was
placed just beyond the red portion of the visible spectrum. He had discovered thermal radiation,
which has come to be known as infrared. [The prefix "infra" means "below."]
Is infrared radiation dangerous?
In general, no -- at least from naturally occurring physical processes. Any form of radiation --
including visible light or radio waves -- could potentially be dangerous if highly concentrated
into a narrow beam (that is the principle of lasers) of very high power. We are immersed in
infrared radiation everyday. It is nothing more than heat. On the other hand, you certainly would
not want to place your hand on a hot stove, in which case IR radiation would be dangerous.
What kinds of objects emit infrared radiation?
All objects that are not at absolute zero emit infrared radiation. Absolute zero defines the
temperature where all molecular motion ceases, and is the coldest possible temperature. It
corresponds to about minus 273 degrees Celsius, or minus 460 degrees Fahrenheit. [Physicists
define this point to be zero degrees Kelvin, with each increment on the Kelvin scale identical to
that of the Celsius scale.] Even ice cubes emit thermal heat!
How does our atmosphere block infrared radiation from space?
Only certain parts of the electromagnetic spectrum (all light ranging from gamma ray to radio
waves) can make it to the Earth's surface. Much is absorbed by our atmosphere. Visible light,
radio waves and a few small ranges of infrared wavelengths do make it through. Gamma rays,
and most of the ultraviolet rays and infrared rays do not. Much of the infrared light is absorbed
by water vapor in our atmosphere. This is why infrared telescopes are placed on high, dry
mountains (like Mauna Kea in Hawaii) so that they can observe more infrared radiation. The
only way to study the entire range of infrared (as well as gamma rays, xrays, UV) is to place
telescopes in space well above the atmosphere. Only some (not all) of the IR radiation between 1
and 40 microns makes it to the Earth's surface. The rest is absorbed by our atmosphere primarily
by water vapor. IR is also absorbed to a lesser degree by carbon dioxide and oxygen molecules.
What materials block, reflect, absorb or emit infrared light?
Thermal infrared, which corresponds to wavelengths longer than about 5 microns is a direct
measure of temperature. One simple material that blocks IR is plexiglass. We use it in a
demonstration of infrared radiation and the greenhouse effect. Also, water is a good absorber of
IR. Hence, one must get above the atmosphere's water vapor to conduct most infrared astronomy
measurements. Any good mirror should also be capable of reflecting infrared light. Most ground-
based telescopes that observe in the "near-infrared" (betweewn 1 and 2.5 microns) rely on the
same telescopes as for optical astronomy. Finally, thermal IR is a measure of heat, and *any*
object above absolute zero (-273 C) emits infrared radiation. The hotter a source, the more IR
light it emits.
What are the benefits of infrared technology?
There are several advantages to detecting and studying infrared radiation. Infrared is basically
heat radiation. Infrared radiation carries information about the temperature distribution of the
objects studied. Infrared can also penetrate, thick smoke, clouds and dust. This makes infrared
cameras very useful in search and rescue and firefighting. Many lives have been saved by
thermal infrared cameras - finding people lost at night or at sea by detecting their body heat, or
finding people in a smoke filled building. Infrared is widely used in the sciences in astronomy,
meteorology, oceanography and archeology. It is used to inspect mechanical and electrical
systems, in animal studies, in medicine, navigation, law enforcement, in the military as well as in
food studies. 
 
See our web site "Seeing Our World in a Different Light" for more details.

Disadvantages

1. Eye damage
The human eye is sensitive to all radiation, including infrared radiation.
IR raises the internal temperature of the eye, virtually “baking” it.
Prolonged IR exposure can lead cataracts, corneal ulcers, and retinal burns.
Don't stare at the sun!
2. Skin Damage
The infrared radiation in the sunlight damages skin.
In direct sunlight, the temperature of human skin rises to about 40°C as it converts the
absorbed IR into heat.
The result of a brief exposure is sunburn.

snorkelstore.net
Prolonged IR exposure induces new blood vessels to form from pre-existing ones in the
skin.
It causes unusual growth and migration of skin cells and changes structural proteins in
the skin, and this adds to premature skin ageing.
4. Greenhouse effect
The earth’s surface and the clouds above it absorb radiation from the sun’s rays and re-
emit it as infrared radiation back out into the atmosphere.
When the air above the earth’s surface has a high concentration of oxides of sulfur and
nitrogen, water vapour, and chemicals such as chlorofluorocarbons, the infrared
radiation becomes trapped on the earth.
The trapped radiation causes increased temperatures and changes in weather that
could be harmful to people and animals.

Infrared technology is critical in many science, business and military contexts. It

makes various devices possible and useful, including night vision goggles, lasers,
thermographic cameras, communications devices and weather satellites. Infrared
waves are incredibly versatile, but they can also be dangerous.

TL;DR (Too Long; Didn't Read)

Infrared radiation has a longer wavelength and lower frequency than visible light. Too
much exposure can damage your eyes and skin. On a global scale, trapped infrared
radiation contributes to global warming.

Infrared Waves and Eye Damage

People who work in industries which expose them to infrared radiation for long periods
of time may experience eye damage. The human eye is sensitive to all of the radiation
in the electromagnetic spectrum, especially if that radiation is at very high levels of
intensity. Exposure to intense electromagnetic radiation, including infrared radiation,
can damage the lens and cornea of the eye. This is one reason why staring at the sun
is harmful (and unintelligent). People who work near intense radiation must wear
goggles.

Infrared Waves, Skin Damage and Lasers

Large doses of infrared waves can also damage skin and tissues. Infrared radiation
waves are the same as heat waves. Laser beams are composed of highly amplified
electromagnetic radiation (visible light, microwaves, infrared and others). These lasers
can be strong enough to burn a hole through metal and so could certainly damage
flesh. Extremely powerful lasers are even being developed by the military for use as
weapons.

Infra-Red Radiation
Infra-red radiation, also known as IR, is named because the wavelength is slightly
longer than red light in the visible light spectrum.
Infra-red is usually divided into near (IR-A), mid (IR-B) and far-infrared (IR-C) regions; 
• Near IR-A: 700 nm–1400 nm (215 THz - 430 THz) and the region closest in
wavelength to the red light visible to the human eye 
• Mid IR-B: 1400 nm–3000 nm (100 THz - 215 THz)
• Far IR-C: 3000 nm–1 mm (300 GHz - 100 THz)
Mid and far-IR are progressively further from the visible spectrum and nearer to
microwave radiation.
There are two potentially significant hazards associated with IR radiation:

 Thermal effects.
Infrared waves are given off by all warm objects and produce heat in all objects they
strike. The waves cause heat by exciting molecules (increasing their movement) in the
substances they strike. The earth is warmed by infrared radiation from the sun.
Sources of IR radiation are used as artificial heating devices e.g. printing ink driers, food
warmers in restaurant kitchens, cold weather outdoor heaters and for therapeutic heat
treatments. These present minimal risks of harm to health, but other sources of IR from
‘hot’ work applications such as work with molten metals, welding and glass blowing can
cause serious burns to unprotected skin.

 Eye effects.
The use of furnaces, powerful heating and drying processes and high powered LED's
which use IR can result in cataracts developing and flash burns to the cornea - these
are the main biological effects of IR-A radiation due to temperature rise in the tissue.
But IR-A radiation wavelengths are close to the visible light wavelengths and are
transmitted to a small extent to the retina; permanent retinal damage can occur if the
source is high powered (produces heat) and the exposure is prolonged. As wavelengths
increase into the IR-B and IR-C regions the radiation is no longer transmitted to the
retina but corneal flash burn injuries can still be caused.
Protection
Where a work activity is known or suspected to generate significant IR radiation, a risk
assessment must be carried out and control measures put in place. The supplier or
manufacturer of the IR source will be able to provide technical information on the power,
flux density etc. to allow an informed assessment to be carried out.
Typical control measures are provision of enclosures and shielding around the source to
prevent exposure, use of protective clothing to prevent skin exposure and use of IR-
opaque eye protection to prevent eye exposure.
Robert Reiland, Worked with and studied the effects of radioactive isotopes.
Answered Jun 17, 2018 · Author has 5.5k answers and 5.8m answer views
Since everything around us is constantly emitting infrared radiation, as are we, at normal
power levels it isn’t harmful.

OTOH, if you happen to be very close to hot coals glowing red, you can be burned by the
radiation. Some of the burning is from the radiation we perceive as red, but most of the
energy radiated by hot coals is infrared.

BTW, contrary to amazingly frequent statements, infrared radiation is not specifically or

specially “heat” radiation. Most of what heats the Earth is in the visible spectrum from the
sun.

Heat is the transfer of energy between two systems as a result of a temperature difference
only. If there is no temperature difference between you and your surroundings or the
surrounding are cooler than your skin, the infrared radiation from your surroundings
doesn’t result in net energy transfer to you and doesn’t quite qualify as heat.

CO2 lasers emit predominantly infrared radiation, and you really don’t want to get in the
way of one of those beams.

It’s the energy per unit area that matters in terms of harm from infrared radiation.