questions and answers Graded
A+ 2026/2027 edition
Radar echo intensity terminology - ✅✅Light (15-30 dBZ), Moderate
(30-40 dBZ), Heavy (40-50 dBZ), Extreme (>50 dBZ)
Radar beam tilt angle for low altitude operations - ✅✅0.5° to 1.5°
Radar beam tilt angle for mid altitude operations - ✅✅1.5° to 4.0°
Radar beam tilt angle for high altitude operations - ✅✅4.0° and
above
Relationship between radar wavelength and precipitation attenuation -
✅✅Longer wavelengths (like S-band) attenuate less and penetrate
precipitation better
Common radar image artifacts - ✅✅Beam blockage, ground clutter,
ghosts, angels
Base reflectivity imagery - ✅✅Shows the lowest elevation angle
radar scan
, Composite reflectivity imagery - ✅✅Shows the highest reflectivity at
any scanned elevation
Advantages of base reflectivity imagery - ✅✅Shows lowest-level
precipitation, helpful for surface weather
Disadvantages of base reflectivity imagery - ✅✅May miss upper-
level strong echoes
Advantages of composite radar imagery - ✅✅Captures strong storm
tops, better for storm structure
Disadvantages of composite radar imagery - ✅✅May overestimate
surface intensity
Distinguishing stratiform from convective echoes on radar -
✅✅Stratiform = widespread, uniform; Convective = isolated, strong,
vertically developed
Sky condition reported in a METAR - ✅✅FEW, SCT, BKN, OVC - in
8ths of sky coverage