DESCRIPTION: Base Reflectivity is one of the basic quantities that a Doppler radar (like NEXRAD) measures. The other base products NEXRAD produces are Base Velocity and Spectrum Width (which is not available via NIDS). Base Reflectivity basically corresponds to the amount of radiation that is scattered or reflected back to the radar by whatever targets are located in the radar beam at a given location. These targets can be hydrometeors (snow, rain drops, hail, cloud drops or ice particles) or other targets (dust, smoke, birds, airplanes, insects). The colors on the Base Reflectivity product correspond to the intensity of the radiation that was received by the radar antenna from a given location.
PRODUCTS: There are five (5) Base Reflectivity NIDS products, available in both precipitation and clear-air modes:
| Precipitation Mode
|
|
|
Elevation
(in degrees)
|
Range
(in kilometers)
|
Resolution
(in deg :
km)
|
|
BREF1
|
0.50
|
230
|
1 : 1
|
|
BREF2
|
1.45
|
230
|
1 : 1
|
|
BREF3
|
2.40
|
230
|
1 : 1
|
|
BREF4
|
3.35
|
230
|
1 : 1
|
|
BREF248
|
0.50
|
460
|
1 : 2
|
|
Clear-Air Mode
|
|
|
Elevation
(in degrees)
|
Range
(in
kilometers)
|
Resolution
(in deg :
km)
|
|
BREF1
|
0.50
|
230
|
1 : 1
|
|
BREF2
|
1.50
|
230
|
1 : 1
|
|
BREF3
|
2.50
|
230
|
1 : 1
|
|
BREF4
|
3.50
|
230
|
1 : 1
|
|
BREF248
|
0.50
|
460
|
1 : 2
|
|
