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Question about a radar image
Posted: Sat May 31, 2003 6:38 pm
by therock1811
I have a question. Why would there be a smoke like return on a radar image. I have an example below.

Posted: Sat May 31, 2003 10:13 pm
by Guest
Thats intresting rock..............Its the first time i have seen that myself...............Well does anyone know anything about this??????????
Of Course, It's No Likely Smoke
Posted: Sun Jun 22, 2003 8:26 pm
by wxman57
Looking at the scale on the left side of the radar, you've circled echoes in the 30-35 DBZ range (light gray). This would indicate possibly light to moderate rain on that scale. What were the sky conditions at the time? Any showers reported? Were the echoes moving?
Really, the only "unusual" thing I see is that DBZ color scale on the left - the gray shades for 35 DBZ and lower.
Posted: Sun Jun 22, 2003 8:40 pm
by therock1811
As I said in my PM, it's supposed to be blue and green for that I think?
Posted: Sun Jun 22, 2003 9:40 pm
by WidreMann
Graphics problem. This happens on my radar occasionally as well.
Posted: Mon Jun 23, 2003 1:23 pm
by Colin
Yes, WidreMann is right...

Occasional graphic problems can happen, and that's what causes the gray smokey appearance.
Posted: Mon Jun 23, 2003 2:04 pm
by ColdFront77
Why would it be a graphics problem if gray is the color for DBZ's 35 and below, as wxman57 indicates?
Posted: Fri Jul 11, 2003 2:10 am
by polarbear
My best guess is that's either ground clutter or very light precipitation. Regional observations from that time indicate cloudy skies but no precipitation. The gray shading of the <35 dBZ reflectivity is a glitch in web output of the GEMPAK radar images. This occasionally happens, usually only for one volume. The lack of color for the lower reflectivities and no looping makes it difficult to say exactly what that is (also since it was over a month ago). I'm not aware that there was any fires in that area.
Sometimes smoke is visible on the WSR-88D radars. It may appear as splotches where the fire is occuring (usually < 30 dBZ) or streams, if there is a brisk wind.