Radar image quality

A number of factors may impact the quality of a radar image.

Not all radar echoes are produced by valid targets. Spurious or missing echoes may be caused by:

• Blind sectors.

• False echoes.

• Target smearing.

• Multi-path interference.

• Sea state and wave height.

• Precipitation and snow.

• Interference from other radar scanners.

Through observation, practice, and experience, you can generally detect these conditions very quickly and use the radar controls to minimize their impact.