Shadowing on radar is caused by which phenomenon?

• A. Echoes being blocked behind a large target.
• B. Interference from other devices.
• C. Sun glare on the screen.
• D. A weather anomaly.

Answer: (A)

Shadowing in radar happens when a large object blocks the radar energy, creating a blind area behind it where echoes are suppressed. The beam hits the front of the object and much of the energy is reflected away, absorbed, or scattered, so targets located behind the object fall outside the beam or receive very little energy. As a result, returns from behind the object are weak or missing, producing a “shadow” on the display. The size of this shadow grows with the object's size relative to the radar beamwidth and with the geometry of the setup. This phenomenon is distinct from interference, sun glare, or weather effects, which affect the signal or display in other ways rather than occluding targets behind a strong reflector.