How do environmental factors like rain or fog influence RADAR performance?

Environmental factors such as rain or fog significantly impact RADAR performance because these conditions can absorb or scatter RADAR waves. When RADAR waves travel through moisture-laden air or precipitation, the energy of these waves can be diminished, preventing the RADAR unit from receiving clear returns from targets. This scattering or absorption can lead to various issues, including inaccurate speed readings or difficulties in detecting objects.

Rain, for instance, can create a significant barrier for the RADAR waves, and if the waves cannot bounce back effectively, the system struggles to compute accurate speeds or even detect the presence of vehicles. Similarly, fog can introduce additional water droplets in the air, further complicating the signal transmission and reception process. This is why understanding the influence of environmental conditions is critical for RADAR operators to interpret data correctly and make informed decisions based on the readings received.