Are You Looking at the Right Weather Radar?

Seeing weather radar images has become as commonplace as checking your email. What started as military technology has evolved into a powerful weather tool, easily delivered into the palm of your hand.

Using radar to gather and display weather information was indirectly invented during World War II. Its initial technology was to detect enemy ships and aircraft. When radar operators discovered that precipitation caused return echoes, the potential for weather observations was realized.

The type of radar image determines the scope and detail of weather information …and may affect your decisions.

Weather radar has evolved from black and white dots indicating the intensity of precipitation to colorful Doppler radars capable of detecting the motion of rain droplets. These provide a more complete picture of targets in the atmosphere, allowing meteorologists to observe the shape, size and motion of hydrometers falling from the sky. A skilled meteorologist, or complex computer algorithm, can differentiate between rain, snow, and even hail.

And while most people are familiar with weather radar images, many do not realize that there are two methods to convey radar information. With each, the scope and detail of information differ and could affect your weather decisions.

 

Mosaic radar

Mosaic, or composite, is radar imagery that’s been stitched together from multiple radars in a region. These radars are not synchronized so it may take up to ten (10) minutes to compile a composite picture.

Mosaic radar imagery is a good way to obtain a quick, general idea of where weather is happening and the precipitation’s movement. This is often what you see from the local news or a radar loop from a weather app. While it is not the timeliest or most detailed data available, composite radar imagery does provide an overview of developing storms and the intensity of the storms in a region.

For more detailed information about a storm in the area, an individual “single site” radar is the more advantageous choice.

 

Single site radar

Single site radar displays data to a range of approximately 143 miles at the highest resolution (and up to 290 miles at a lower resolution). There are roughly 160 of these single site radars across the U.S.

These produce dozens of radar products every few minutes for all types of precipitation, the rotation of thunderstorm clouds, airborne tornado debris, wind strength and direction.

Thousands of businesses use radar intelligence to keep employees safe, protect assets, maintain business continuity or evaluate supply chain logistics.

Because single site images do not rely on other radar data, they update more frequently and provides more detailed information. Meteorologists often prefer single site radar imagery for its higher quality information.

But it’s not only meteorologists who rely on radar data to best examine dynamic weather situations. Thousands of businesses are accessing and using radar intelligence to keep employees safe, protect assets, maintain business continuity or evaluate supply chain logistics.

When comparing mosaic and single site images, the differences can easily be seen.

Image 1 (Mosiac/Composite) shows rain and thunderstorms across the Gulf Coast and Southeast. The composite image gives a broad overview of storms across the region, and the ability to animate the image makes it easy to understand where the storms will move.

While it’s easy to see that it’s likely raining in Alexandria and Tallahassee, it’s difficult to share details on the intensity of the storm.

▲ Image 1

Compare with the same view in image 2. The single site radar produces a higher resolution image that updates more frequently—up to once per minute. The single site image also conveys the shape and nature of the thunderstorm more distinctly.

It’s easier to pin locations seeing the heaviest rain, and in this case, where severe thunderstorms are occurring (in the darker reds).

▲ Image 2

 

Which radar should you use?

Both methods provide a wealth of information. While single site radar can demonstrate what is happening in a relatively small region with a higher degree of detail, mosaic radar gives an overview of what’s happening well beyond the range of a single site.

For example, if a user wants to view activity across the entire U.S., mosaic radar will provide a general idea of where weather is happening. Once potential weather risks could impact an area of interest, single site radar would be best to see a hyper-focused, real-time view of an evolving weather situation.

Understanding the differences between the two methods—as well as their limitations—can help businesses and the public make more informed decisions regarding which radar data is most appropriate for the situation.

 

Get the best of both from one mobile app

For decision makers who want a full range of professional-grade weather insights, RadarScope^®—powered by DTN—offers mosaic and single site radars in one app.

RadarScope displays data from a variety of sources, including data from around the world, including the United States, Canada, Australia, Germany, Korea, Puerto Rico, Guam, and Okinawa.

Further, RadarScope delivers real-time information for the following:

• Tornado, severe thunderstorm, flash flood, and special marine warnings
• Snow squall warnings
• Predicted storm tracks
• Reflectivity
• Velocity
• Dual polarization
• Shear contours to help identify mesocyclones and tornadoes
• Hail size and probability contours to show where hail may have fallen

Users can also access additional information including radar from the past 30 days, shear contours, hail size and hail probability contours for an additional cost.

When it comes to radar information, there are two methods. Now that you know, the one you use determines the scope and detail of weather information and could affect your weather decisions.

Learn more about how the right radar data can help reduce risk, protect assets and employees and build supply chain resilience.