How do weather radars detect rain and storms?
Quick Answer
Weather radar sends out radio waves and measures the echoes that bounce back from raindrops, hail and snow.
The Full Story
A weather radar antenna emits pulses of radio energy and listens for the reflections from precipitation particles in the sky. The time it takes for the echo to return shows how far away the rain is, while the strength of the echo helps estimate how heavy the precipitation may be. Doppler radar also detects motion by measuring changes in the returned signal, which helps meteorologists identify rotation in severe storms. This technology is widely used for forecasting flash floods, hail and tornado-producing storms.
Key Facts
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