IntuVue RDR-4000 Weather Radar Pilot's Guide
AZIMUTH RESOLUTION
Azimuth resolution is a function of the beam width. When two targets
are closely adjacent in azimuth and at the same range, the radar may
display them as a single target. However, as the targets are
approached they appear to separate. The ability of the radar system to
resolve these targets is a function of the antenna's beam width and the
range to the target.
ANGULAR RESOLUTION EFFECT ON VERTICAL RESOLUTION
Beam width also has a range-dependent effect on the vertical resolution
of weather. The typical effect is that the apparent echo tops of the
weather seem increasingly higher in altitude than the true echo tops as
range increases. Although the tops of distant storms may actually be
lower than displayed, any decision regarding ability to overfly distant
cells should consider the potential for the tops of growing convective
cells to be higher than expected when the aircraft reaches the cell
location.
060-4492-000
Principles of Weather Radar Use
Rev 7, February 2015
45