Table of Contents
About the Author iv
Abbreviations and Acronyms v
Chapter 1 Radar History, Theory, Hardware, and Operation 1
History of Radar: From Ancient Greece to the Glass Cockpit 1
Radar Theory Basics 9
Hardware 14
Radar in Action: Operational Principles 20
Conclusion 26
Quiz 28
Chapter 2 Storm Meteorology and Reflectivity 29
Introduction 29
Basic Storm Attributes 30
Atmospheric Warning Signs 33
Thunderstorm Disparities 37
Examples 40
Quiz 45
Chapter 3 Airborne Weather Radar Operations 47
Introduction 47
Contouring/Storm Shapes 49
Attenuation 58
Sensitivity (Gain) 69
Tilt 78
Range 96
Terrain Mapping with Radar 100
Turbulence, Wind Shear Detection, and Other Advanced Features 103
Operational Strategies 108
Airborne Weather Radar Scenarios 119
Chapter 4 Datalink Weather Radar Operations 133
Introduction 133
Brief History of Datalink Weather 134
Sources of Datalink Radar Imagery 137
System Operations: FIS-B and SXM 142
NTSB Warning 145
Strategies When Using Datalink Weather Radar 146
Examples 148
Quiz 156
Appendix: Quiz Answer Keys 159
Notes 165
Index 171