A heavy thunderstorm can affect the radar picture. What is the likely effect?

• A. It terminates transmission
• B. It has no effect
• C. It can affect the radar picture
• D. It improves signal

Answer: (C)

When radar beams pass through a heavy thunderstorm, the dense precipitation strongly reflects and also absorbs some of the energy. That means the storm often shows up as a very bright echo, but at the same time the wave is weakened as it travels through the storm. The result is a degraded and sometimes distorted radar picture: echoes behind the storm can be weakened or missing, and the storm’s outline can look smeared or exaggerated. So a heavy thunderstorm can affect what you see on the radar display. It doesn’t stop transmission or improve the signal, and there is a definite effect to the image.