Radar is a measurement

Use radar legends and time sequences without treating colors as promises.

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Weather radar sends pulses and measures returned energy. Reflectivity helps show precipitation; velocity measures motion toward or away from the radar. Read the product, legend and timestamp. Several images show movement better than one. Radar is not a photograph and can miss or misidentify things.

Worked example

In this fictional sequence an echo is west of town at 2:00, nearer at 2:10, and over town at 2:20. It moved east in this example; do not use this diagram for real weather decisions.

Three labeled radar practice panels at 2:00, 2:10 and 2:20 show a shaded echo moving east toward a marked town.

Would you believe it?

Weather radar can measure motion toward or away from it, not just where precipitation is. That is the Doppler effect at work.

National Weather Service: Doppler radar

Question 1 What does radar send out? Pulses of electromagnetic energy Raindrops Tiny cameras

Question 2 Which product helps show precipitation returns? A lunch menu Population density Reflectivity

Question 3 Which product measures motion toward or away from radar? A calendar Velocity A compass photograph

Question 4 Can the same color mean different things in different products? Yes, check the legend No, red always means a tornado Only on paper

Question 5 Why compare several timestamps? To guarantee tomorrow To remove every error To see change and movement

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