WW2010
University of Illinois

WW2010
 
  welcome
 
> online guides
 
  archives
 
  educational cd-rom
 
  current weather
 
  about ww2010
 
  index

Online Guides
 
  introduction
 
  meteorology
 
> remote sensing
 
  reading maps
 
  projects, activities

Remote Sensing
 
  introduction
 
> radars
 
  satellites

Radars
 
  introduction
 
> radar basics
 
  imagery
 
  velocity patterns
 
  applications

Radar Basics
 
  radar signals
 
> wave properties
 
  signal scattering
 
  wavelength effects
 
  ray paths
 
  clear air returns
 
  target location
 
  scanning modes
 
  radial velocity

User Interface
 
  graphics
> text

NOTE: We've guessed that you're not using a client that supports colored tables and have tried to compensate. Low graphics mode looks much better on clients that do... we recommend switching to Netscape 3.0 or Microsoft Internet Explorer.
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Wave Properties
wavelengths and phase shifts

The wavelength ([Image: ] ) of a wave is the distance from one crest to the next.

The phase of a wave, measured in degrees, where 360 degrees is one wavelength, indicates the current position of the wave relative to a reference position. For example, if at time T1 the position of the wave along the vertical line was:

while at time T2, the position of the wave was:

then the wavelength did not change from T1 to T2, but the wave's position relative to the vertical line changed 1/4 wavelength, or 90 degrees. This change is called a "phase shift".



radar signals
Terms for using data resources. CD-ROM available.
Credits and Acknowledgments for WW2010.
Department of Atmospheric Sciences (DAS) at
the University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign.

signal scattering