Final answer:
Modern weather radar works by emitting pulses of microwave radiation and measuring the return signal scattered back to the radar from various targets.
Step-by-step explanation:
Modern weather radar works by emitting pulses of microwave radiation and measuring the return signal scattered back to the radar from various targets.
Radar uses radiation with wavelengths similar to those of microwaves to detect the location and speed of distant objects. The speed of the object can be measured using the Doppler shift of the returning waves.
By detecting and timing microwave echoes, radar systems can determine the distance to objects as diverse as clouds and aircraft, as well as determine the speed of a car or the intensity of a rainstorm.