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radar horizon

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radar horizon

[′rā‚där hə‚rīz·ən]
(navigation)
The distance to which a radar's operation is limited by the quasi-optical characteristics of the radio waves employed.
McGraw-Hill Dictionary of Scientific & Technical Terms, 6E, Copyright © 2003 by The McGraw-Hill Companies, Inc.

radar horizon

The line at which direct radar rays are tangential to the earth's surface. On the open sea, the radar horizon is horizontal, but, on land, it varies according to the topographical features of the terrain. The radar horizon is one of the determining factors for the limits of the pickup range of the radar. The radar pickup range in nautical miles is equal to the square root of 1.5 times the radar aerial height in feet.
An Illustrated Dictionary of Aviation Copyright © 2005 by The McGraw-Hill Companies, Inc. All rights reserved
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