Final answer:
Weather radar systems can detect precipitation and other objects with a high degree of resolution, with frequencies like 500-MHz allowing details in the range of tens of centimeters to be resolved. Facilities like the Arecibo telescope and FAST in China exhibit the advanced capabilities of such radars.
Step-by-step explanation:
The weather radar is a sophisticated tool that can detect precipitation and is also versatile enough to provide information on the size and shape of objects, including aircraft and geological terrain. Utilizing a frequency such as 500-MHz, the radar systems can observe details to a very fine resolution. For instance, the Earth-based Arecibo telescope, before its decommissioning, and the newer Five-hundred-meter Aperture Spherical Telescope (FAST) in China demonstrate the advanced capability of radar systems in both weather monitoring and radar astronomy.
When it comes to assessing the minimum size of the details that can be resolved by a 500-MHz radar, the resolution is typically in the range of tens of centimeters, which allows detection of fairly small objects or features of larger objects. This capability is crucial not only for weather prediction by identifying precipitation but also for airspace safety and geological surveying, even in challenging visibility conditions such as those presented by clouds, wind, and rain.