Doppler Radar

Technology

Weather Radar / Pulse-Doppler Radar / Meteorological Radar

/ˈdɒplər ˈreɪdɑːr/ | Plural: Doppler radars

Noun Technical Term

Expert Tip: Doppler radar is a specialized radar system that uses the Doppler effect to measure velocity data about objects at a distance.

Definition

1Weather Monitoring System

The National Weather Service uses Doppler radar to track storms.

2Velocity Measurement Technology

Doppler radar can determine both precipitation location and intensity.

3Aviation Navigation Tool

Airports use Doppler radar for wind shear detection.

Expert Tip: Doppler radar works by bouncing a microwave signal off a desired target and analyzing how the object's motion has altered the frequency of the returned signal.

Key Features

1Velocity Measurement

Doppler radar can measure the speed of moving objects.

2Precipitation Detection

Modern Doppler radar can distinguish between rain, snow, and hail.

3Storm Tracking

Meteorologists use Doppler radar to predict tornado formation.

Common Applications

1Weather Forecasting

The Doppler radar network provides real-time weather data.

2Aviation Safety

Air traffic controllers rely on Doppler radar systems.

3Military Use

Military aircraft are equipped with advanced Doppler radar.

4Traffic Monitoring

Police use Doppler radar guns for speed detection.

Expert Tip: The most common use of Doppler radar is in meteorology, where it helps forecasters track precipitation and storm systems with greater accuracy than conventional radar.