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--- seasonality_core:map:radar_interference [2023/02/12 04:32] – created mike
+++ seasonality_core:map:radar_interference [2023/02/12 04:42] (current) – mike
@@ Line 11: / Line 11: @@
 ==== Ground Clutter ====
+Sometimes you'll notice a radar image showing almost a "glow" of rain just around a radar station.  The radar might show that it is raining in your area, even though it's clear outside.  It's most common in the summer time in the evening hours.  In this case, what you are seeing is ground clutter.  In the example above, in summer months, there's a good chance you are seeing bugs like mosquitoes being picked up by the radar station. But you can also notice bird migrations and other ground-based clutter.  Sometimes this clutter can be filtered out of the image, but that's not always the case.
+=== Inversions ===
+Occasionally the atmosphere itself can cause ground clutter.  If the atmospheric conditions are just right, the beam can be reflected back to the ground by a layer of air with a quick temperature change.  This is similar to the waviness you might notice at a sunset over a large body of water.  When the beam is reflected, the radar instrument will see the ground (where the beam is being reflected) instead of precipitation, and this could show up on a radar image.