Function

• Radar technology works by emitting radio waves from a single transmitter. When radio waves make contact with a type of object, the signal becomes scattered and reflects back to the transmitter at a different wavelength. In meteorology, scientists take this radar data and other factors, such as temperature and season, in order to determine the type of precipitation detected.
  
  

Data Interpretation

• The wavelengths that radar detects are measured in different colors to indicate precipitation intensities.
  
  

Doppler RADAR

• One common weather radar often mentioned is Doppler radar, which is a device that uses the Doppler Effect to study the motion of precipitation, as well as its location. Doppler radars measure the frequency change in returning radio waves, allowing scientists to better predict the directions of immediate severe storms.
  
  

History

• RADAR is an acronym that stands for RAdio Detection And Ranging. Weather radar technology, as we know it, was originally used during World War II by military officials who wanted to detect hostile missiles and aircraft. Scientists then realized that the technology could also be used to detect clouds and precipitation, and major weather radar systems have evolved since.
  
  

Limitations

• Scientists often have to account for certain "blips" in the data that weather radar systems collect. Radio wave emissions often encounter objects such as trees and buildings, preventing them from detecting any precipitation on the other side.