Infrared Aerial photos can be used for many different things but one of the most common is in our weather reporting. Infrared detects the amount of heat is a certain area and this helps our weather man to help forcast the weather and possible bad storms. This certain map is the likelyhood of lightening happening in certain areas.

http://sofia.usgs.gov/publications/fs/2004-3016/images/fig3x.jpg