A FLIR unit might offer a visual indication from much larger distance?

On Sunday, October 2, 2016 at 7:46:12 AM UTC-7, Mike the Strike wrote:
I've seen enough soaring birds make a beeline for a thermal 1/4 mile away from them that I have to believe there is something visible, at least in some cases. Perhaps a creative optical solution might work if we find the right wavelength and polarization?

I also spent many happy years playing with the electric fields around clouds and sadly think they will be too chaotic around turbulent thermals to be any use.

Mike