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Radar Imagery - Sending and Receiving Signals

Introduction | Sending and Receiving Signals | Scattering of a Radar Pulse

Radar creates an electromagnetic energy pulse that is focused by an antenna and transmitted through the atmosphere. Objects in the path of this pulse are called targets. They scatter the electromagnetic energy. Some of that energy is scattered back toward the radar.

Image of radar sending pulse.

The transmitting antenna is normally also the receiving antenna. It gathers this back-scattered radiation and feeds it to a device called a receiver. Meteorologists use this data to decide the strength and location of the precipitation.

Image of radar receiving pulse.

Content from the University of Illinois WW2010 Project.

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