Composite shadowing on a radar display is best described as which?

• A. It is the radar picture becoming static due to lack of land features.
• B. It is the combination of horizontal and vertical shadowing observed on the RADAR display as changing responses to the land.
• C. It is shadowing caused by weather fronts crossing coast.
• D. It is a misinterpretation due to radar clutter.

Answer: (B)

Composite shadowing refers to the shadow pattern seen on a radar display that results from both horizontal and vertical blocking by terrain. Horizontal shadowing occurs when a land feature at or near the radar height blocks returns along a specific bearing, while vertical shadowing happens because terrain height and Earth's curvature affect the beam’s path, creating shadowed regions at greater ranges. When these two effects occur together around coastlines and varied topography, their combined influence produces a changing set of shadowed areas as you sweep or as range and bearing change. This explains why the land features produce a dynamic, land-dependent response on the radar display. It’s not about weather fronts, clutter, or a static image caused by lack of land features.