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NEXRAD ANOMALY: THREE BODY SCATTER SPIKE
"Three Body Scattering" is a phenomenon that occurs primarily when large hail is forming
in the atmosphere. Since the hail is so large and so reflective, a significant amount of
the energy of the radar beam reflects off the hail and down towards the ground. The enery
then bounces off the ground and again hits the reflective hail which again scatters the
energy, part of which is received a second time by the radar. So instead of the hail producing
a single radar return, it can produce multiple returns along the same radial as energy is
bounced off the ground and again off the hail.
This causes a characteristic spike as shown in the image above angling off to the northwest and
is known as a "Three Body Scattering Spike" (TBBS). The spike is not real in that the location
of the spike doesn't really represent real hail in that location--however, where the spike begins
can provide very valuable information as to where large hail is forming.
Note: If you have a better image of an example of this anomaly, please let me know.
I'm not entirely happy with the example above.
Source:
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