Question

Weather radar is a great help to pilots in detecting thunderstorms. However, pilots

must be aware that radar does not reliably detect hail. Radar operates by
transmitting a pulse of radio energy and receiving the pulse again after it is reflected
by a target. Large raindrops, the kind found in intense thunderstorms, are the best
radar reflectors and will show up as intense targets on the screen. Hail is somewhat
porous and has an uneven structure; it tends to absorb or scatter the radar pulse
rather than reflect it back to the antenna.
According to the paragraph, weather radar does not reliably detect hail because of
A
the size of hail.
B
C
D
its penetrable surface.
faulty pulse transmission by the radar.
pilot error in reading radar transmissions.

Answer 1

Weather radar is a valuable tool for pilots to detect thunderstorms. However, pilots must be aware that radar cannot consistently detect hail. Radar operates by transmitting radio energy pulses and receiving them after they reflect off a target. While large raindrops, commonly found in intense thunderstorms, are excellent radar reflectors and appear as strong targets on the screen, hail, due to its porous and uneven structure, tends to absorb or scatter the radar pulse instead of reflecting it back to the antenna.

The paragraph highlights that weather radar's ability to detect hail is not reliable because of the characteristics of hail, making it less effective at reflecting radar signals compared to large raindrops.