>Modern Aircraft are Equipped with Weather Radar
Interestingly, thunderstorm reflectivity can be divided into three parts. The bottom third of the storm is composed entirely of water and is the part of the storm that most efficiently reflects radar energy. The middle third of the storm is composed of a combination of super-cooled water and ice crystals. Reflectivity in this part of the storm begins to reduce as ice crystals are very poor radar reflectors. The top third of the storm is composed entirely of ice crystals and is almost invisible to radar. To combat this potentially misleading picture, MultiScan Radar takes information from different radar scans and merges the information into a more accurate total weather picture.
Aviation weather or weather radar system presents the pilots with a topographic map type display of weather formations and features such as rivers, coastlines and cities, allowing him to see a huge amount of information at a glance.
All in all, an impressive collection of technology – particularly when you remember that the whole thing works in an aircraft that is constantly changing its speed, direction and altitude.