over-the-horizon radar

over-the-horizon radar

[′ō·vərthə hə′rīz·ən ′rā‚där]

(electromagnetism)

Long-range radar in which the transmitted and reflected beams are bounced off the ionosphere layers to achieve ranges far beyond line of sight.

McGraw-Hill Dictionary of Scientific & Technical Terms, 6E, Copyright © 2003 by The McGraw-Hill Companies, Inc.

over-the-horizon radar

Principle of over-the-horizon radar.

A radar system that makes use of the atmospheric reflection and refraction phenomena to extend its range of detection beyond the line of sight. Targets can be detected by over-the-horizon radar thousands of miles away. Over-the-horizon radars may be either forward-scatter or back-scatter systems.

An Illustrated Dictionary of Aviation Copyright © 2005 by The McGraw-Hill Companies, Inc. All rights reserved