Radar Scanning Pattern

Typically, a National Weather Service's NEXRAD (NEXt Generation RADar) WSR-88D system radar antenna is pointed at a low angle, sends out a pulse for a fraction of a second, and then "listens" to receive any returning energy or "scattering." Then the radar rotates an incremental amount and repeats the process. Once the radar completes an entire revolution, the antenna elevation angle is increased and the process is repeated. Radars transmit and listen so quickly that they can scan much of the nearby atmosphere in about 5 minutes.