Final answer:
The weather radar's capability to detect turbulence can vary, yet it can also pinpoint details like precipitation using Doppler-shift radar. A 500-MHz radar system's resolution allows it to discern details in geological terrain or aircraft. Weather radar primarily studies the troposphere, where most atmospheric phenomena are confined.
Step-by-step explanation:
The weather radar can detect precipitation and turbulence up to various ranges, depending on the specific radar system's capabilities. Weather radar systems are commonly used to detect turbulence as a medical indicator in a process that is analogous to Doppler-shift radar used to detect storms. This technology can probe through cloud layers, which can be compared to the way that air traffic controllers use radar to locate incoming planes when visibility is poor.
For a radar operating at 500-MHz, the smallest observable detail is determined by the radar's resolution. This resolution is a function of the frequency of the radar wave, with higher frequencies generally capable of resolving smaller details. In the context of identifying geological or man-made objects such as aircraft, a 500-MHz radar can detect and provide information about the size and shape of these objects.
In terms of atmospheric phenomena, weather radar primarily studies the troposphere, where most weather and wind patterns occur. This region extends up to about 12 km high. For example, if a radar used to detect aircraft receives a reflected pulse after 6x10
-5
s from the transmission, the distance to the reflecting object can be calculated using the speed of light and the time delay.