According to information from your weather portal, weather radars are able to detect not only precipitation but besides another objects moving in the air. This is crucial because, although the rain does not usually pose a serious threat to aircraft, a flock of birds drawn into engines can even consequence in a plane crash. See besides that weather radar detects bird flocks by issuing radio pulses.
Radio waves, ranging from respective to respective centimetres (usually in the S, C or X bands), reflect from the bodies of birds. This is due to the fact that the density of birds is different from the air surrounding them, causing the radio signal to return to the radar, allowing them to be detected. After bouncing distant from the birds, the radio signal returns to the radar, where it is analysed in detail. The return time of the signal allows to find the distance of the flock, its strength indicates the size of the flock, while the doppler shift informs about the velocity and direction of the movement of birds.
On radar screens, bird flocks appear as fuzzy, irregular spots, sometimes taking the form of rings or streaks. specified a image is characteristic and allows to separate them from the more uniform patterns of precipitation specified as rain or snow. The radar patterns created by birds become peculiarly clear during mass migration, especially in spring and autumn, erstwhile birds decision in large groups, frequently under cover of night.
Interestingly, characteristic radar rings appear erstwhile birds fly out of their resting places at dawn, creating concentric waves on the radar screen. As explained, modern radar systems specified as Polish POLRAD usage dual polarization radars. This technology importantly improves the ability to detect birds, as it analyses not only the presence of objects, but besides their form and orientation in the atmosphere.
Advanced data processing algorithms are able to separate biological signals (from birds, bats or insects) from meteorological signals. They do so, taking into account factors specified as motion variability and signal irregularities. For example, birds usually decision at a velocity of 20–60 km/h, which represents a clear difference compared to wind or rainfall.
Nevertheless, the usage of radar data has its limitations. The main difficulty is to separate between birds and another airborne objects specified as large insects. Additionally, radars may show little sensitivity to tiny species of birds. In specified situations, in order to get a fuller image, radar data are frequently supplemented by conventional field observations or acoustic tests.
According to the Central Statistical Office data, in 2020 more than 1000 air accidents were reported in Poland, of which 120 were caused by bird flocks. Therefore, the detection of birds by means of weather radar is crucial for the prevention of air accidents.
Polish weather radars are able to detect not only birds, but besides another objects moving in the air. Thanks to modern technologies specified as dual polarization, radars can improve their effectiveness in bird detection. This is very crucial for aviation safety, especially during massive bird migration.
Weather radars are irreplaceable in airspace monitoring. Thanks to advanced technologies, they are able to detect not only atmospheric precipitation, but besides birds and another objects moving in the air. This is crucial for preventing air accidents and expanding air safety.
