Weather Radar: Doppler Radar Wiki

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Research on how weather radars work.

Weather radars are used to measure and detect precipitation and severe weather conditions. Additionally, they assist in warning the public of severe weather conditions, such as hail, tornadoes, blizzards, and floods. Multiple radar images over time provide indications of where and at what speed rain and snow are moving. In addition to allowing us to see inside clouds, they also allow us to observe what is actually occurring. Scientists, engineers, and technicians work together to design, develop, and utilize radar technology for studying the atmosphere (NCAR, 2022).

There are different wavelengths and frequencies of energy emitted by objects with varying wavelengths, including large radio waves and shorter gamma rays. Radars emit microwave energy which is a longer wavelength. Radar works by transmitting a focused impulse of microwave energy (like the microwave oven or a cell phone, but stronger) at an object, for example, a cloud. It gathers information about the object by measuring some of the energy in the beam of light that bounces back. Within a radius of about 100 miles from its location, radar can measure the size, quantity, speed, and direction of precipitation (NCAR, 2022).

This is where the Doppler effect comes in to make higher percentage of accuracy. This physical phenomenon is named after Austrian physicist Christian Doppler. Everyone has experienced the Doppler Effect before. You may have experienced the Doppler. For instance, when a fast-moving car honks at you when it passes by, the horn's sound pitch increases as the object approaches and decreases as it moves away. Due to the squeezed sound waves that occur as an object moves towards you and stretched sound waves that occur as the object moves away, the Doppler effect occurs. Sound waves are not the only ones that exhibit the Doppler Effect; light waves and radio waves as well. A Doppler Radar system uses this principle to determine if rain is moving closer or farther from the radar. Doppler radar uses the Doppler effect to gather velocity data from the particles that are being measured. It can also detect changes in radio waves, which can be used to determine wind speed and direction. A computer then combines the radar data with a map so the First Alert Weather Center can tell where rain is falling or where a storm is developing. Through the use of special computer software, forecasters can examine the weather in towns and neighborhoods up to street level. All of this together allows people to prepare at home for rain, snow, sleet, freezing rain, or storms, allowing them to get the First Alert faster than anyone else across the Mid-South (Gunter, 2019).

References:

Gunter, N. (2019, February 7). Breakdown: Why doppler radar is an important tool.  Https://Www.Actionnews5.Com . Retrieved April 13, 2022, from https://www.actionnews5.com/2019/02/07/breakdown-why-doppler-radar-is-an-important-tool/

NCAR. (2022). How Do Radars Work? Earth Observing Laboratory. Retrieved April 15, 2022, from https://www.eol.ucar.edu/content/how-do-radars-work

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