A radar return with a shadow behind it indicates what property of the cloud?

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Multiple Choice

A radar return with a shadow behind it indicates what property of the cloud?

Explanation:
Radar shadow occurs when a very moist, dense cloud region attenuates the radar beam. The liquid water in the cloud absorbs and scatters the microwaves, so the signal is weakened as it passes through the cloud and cannot reach beyond. That creates a dark area behind the dense part—the shadow. This points to excessive moisture in the cloud. If there were no moisture, there wouldn’t be a strong return to cast a shadow; light drizzle would give weak returns but not a pronounced shadow; a high-altitude, low-moisture cloud wouldn’t significantly attenuate the beam to produce a shadow.

Radar shadow occurs when a very moist, dense cloud region attenuates the radar beam. The liquid water in the cloud absorbs and scatters the microwaves, so the signal is weakened as it passes through the cloud and cannot reach beyond. That creates a dark area behind the dense part—the shadow. This points to excessive moisture in the cloud. If there were no moisture, there wouldn’t be a strong return to cast a shadow; light drizzle would give weak returns but not a pronounced shadow; a high-altitude, low-moisture cloud wouldn’t significantly attenuate the beam to produce a shadow.

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