pulse Doppler radar

radar technology

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Last updated

July 13, 2026

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Pulse Doppler radar is a type of radar technology that utilizes the Doppler effect to measure the velocity of targets. Unlike standard radar, which primarily determines a target's range and direction by measuring the time it takes for a signal to return, pulse Doppler radar also analyzes the change in frequency of the reflected signal.12

This frequency shift, known as the Doppler frequency shift, is directly proportional to the target's radial velocity (its speed towards or away from the radar). This capability is crucial for applications like weather forecasting, where Doppler weather radar can detect the movement of precipitation and identify rotating weather patterns associated with severe storms like tornadoes. It also allows for the separation of moving targets from stationary clutter, improving detection accuracy.23

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