Client Radar Tutorial

Getting the Most Out of Summer Radar Meteorologists Mike Knechtel & Brian Koochel Many eyes will be glued to radar sites when skies darken. That’s when time really means money. Read on for tips from Weather or Not’s meteorologists on how to increase your lead-time before inclement weather hits your location. (This article is about liquid precipitation only.) Radar 101 How Much Rain Will We Get? Radar sends out short pulses of microwave energy into As you decrease in temperature, the lighter dBZ the atmosphere. The amount of energy that is numbers will represent heavier rain. The reverse is reflected back to the radar from the precipitation is also true. So, 15dBZ at 35 degrees may be a steady rain directly proportional to the volume of precipitation but at 90 degrees may never reach the ground. For the detected. Graphically, this reflected energy sake of brevity, this article assumes moderate (backscatter or Z) is represented by color contours in temperatures. units of decibels of Z (dBZ). Radar returns of 25dBZ or less indicate light rainfall, Clear air mode is highly sensitive detecting very small drizzle and Reflectivity Rainfall Rate (in/hr) particles in the atmosphere such as dust, birds and sprinkles. Returns 15 dBZ <0.01 smoke. Its sensitivity helps detect very light of 30-40dBZ 20dBZ 0.02 25dBZ 0.04 precipitation such as drizzle, mist, and sprinkles. When indicate moderate 30dBZ 0.09 working on a sensitive ...