# Weather Radar & Ground Clutter

**URL:** <https://boards.straightdope.com/t/weather-radar-ground-clutter/155392>\
**Category:** Factual Questions\
**Created:** [February 16, 2003, 5:17am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/weather-radar-ground-clutter/155392 "2003-02-16T05:17:10Z")\
**Posts on this page:** 3\
**Page:** 1

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**Author:** ![Jinx](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/c6cbf5/32.png) [@Jinx](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Jinx)\
**Post date:** [February 16, 2003, 5:17am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/weather-radar-ground-clutter/155392/1 "2003-02-16T05:17:10Z")

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When radar imaging was first introduced into local forecasts, the term “ground clutter” was used to excuse false images. The term was never really explained, and today it is not even an issue. Does anyone know what “ground clutter” was? I WAG it was some kind of inversion from reflection of the radar signal [within close range] to the antenna caused by atmospheric convection?

- Jinx

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**Author:** ![Ice\_Wolf](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/i/dfb087/32.png) [@Ice\_Wolf](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Ice_Wolf)\
**Post date:** [February 16, 2003, 5:43am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/weather-radar-ground-clutter/155392/2 "2003-02-16T05:43:47Z")

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[How ground clutter affects radar.](http://www.usatoday.com/weather/wclutter.htm)

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**Author:** ![Jinx](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/c6cbf5/32.png) [@Jinx](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Jinx)\
**Post date:** [February 16, 2003, 5:49am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/weather-radar-ground-clutter/155392/3 "2003-02-16T05:49:16Z")

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Thanks, Ice Wolf… I guess the filtering techniques have vastly improved thus reducing the appearance of ground clutter on the radar screen. - Jinx