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Chapter 3: Standard Radar Operations 3-5
Identifying False Echo
Returns
Identifying False Echo Returns
Not all echoes are direct returns to the radar antenna. Occasionally signals
appear at positions where there is no actual target. These are called false
echoes, and may be caused by side lobes, ghost images, indirect echoes or
multiple echoes.
This section briefly describes the echo patterns that can be produced by false
echoes and the likely cause. Itshould be noted thatthe radaroperator, through
observation, practice, and experience, can generally detect these conditions
very quickly. These effects can usually be minimized using the radar controls.
Side Lobes
A small part of the RF energy from each transmitted pulse is radiated outside
the single narrow beam. This produces side lobe patterns, shown in
Figure 3-3.
Side lobes have no effect on distant or small surface objects. However, the
echo froma large object at short rangemay produce an arc on the radar screen
similar to a range ring or a series of echoes forming a broken arc. Side-lobe
echoes normally occur at ranges below 3nm, and can be reduced by adjusting
the SEA control.
Figure 3-3: Side Lobes
True echo Side echoes
Main lobe
Antenna
Arc
Side lobe Side lobe
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81186_3.book Page 5 Thursday, August 22, 2002 8:23 AM