The Naval Research Laboratory areas of radar concerns. Radars locate an object’s position by emitting electromagnetic waves that reflect off objects, such as planes, birds, and mountains, and are returned to the radar. The electromagnetic waves that are returned to the radar provide the information needed to calculate an estimated size, location, speed, and direction of an object. The radar viewshed, or field of view, is the area that is within range of a radar’s electromagnetic waves. The range of the viewshed is influenced by multiple factors, including the radar’s look angle, terrain, weather, as well as natural and manmade objects. Natural and man-made structures within a radar’s field of view can limit the range of the viewshed by blocking electromagnetic waves, which impacts the integrity and usefulness of a radar in identifying and locating aircraft, watercraft, weather, or other objects such as missiles. Additionally, other electromagnetic activity, such as radio waves or microwaves, in the vicinity of a radar transmitter and/or receiver (typically within 8 to 10 miles) can interfere with the electromagnetic waves emitted by the radar. One of the most crucial components within the radar viewshed is the line-of-sight, which is the linear path between the transmitter and receiver (when not the same antenna). An obstruction to this linear path can result in loss communication signals between the transmitter and receiver rendering the radar ineffective.

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