1. What is Radar Horizon?

The radar horizon is the maximum distance at which a radar can detect objects at low altitudes due to the curvature of the Earth. It's the point where the radar beam becomes tangent to the Earth's surface.

2. How Does the Calculator Work?

The calculator uses the radar horizon formula:

Where:

• \( d \) — Radar horizon distance in kilometers
• \( h \) — Height of the radar antenna in meters

Explanation: The formula approximates the distance to the horizon for radar signals, accounting for standard atmospheric refraction.

3. Importance of Radar Horizon Calculation

Details: Understanding radar horizon is crucial for radar system design, placement of radar stations, and predicting detection ranges for low-flying objects.

4. Using the Calculator

Tips: Enter the height of the radar antenna in meters. The height must be a positive value (height > 0).

5. Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ)

Q1: Why is the radar horizon important?
A: It determines the maximum range at which a radar can detect low-altitude targets, which is critical for air traffic control, military surveillance, and weather monitoring.

Q2: How does antenna height affect radar range?
A: Higher antenna placement increases the radar horizon distance. Doubling the height increases the horizon distance by about 41%.

Q3: What factors can affect the actual radar horizon?
A: Atmospheric conditions, refraction, antenna beam width, and target size can all affect the practical radar horizon.

Q4: Is this formula accurate for all situations?
A: This is a simplified formula that assumes standard atmospheric conditions. For precise calculations, more complex models accounting for actual atmospheric refraction should be used.

Q5: What's the difference between radar horizon and optical horizon?
A: The radar horizon is typically about 15% greater than the optical horizon due to atmospheric refraction effects on radio waves.