Cockpit Reference Guide

Garmin G1000 Pilot’s Guide for the Piper PA-46 Meridian
190-00763-02 Rev. A332
HAZARD AVOIDANCE
SYSTEM
OVERVIEW
FLIGHT
INSTRUMENTS
EICAS
AUDIO PANEL
& CNS
FLIGHT
MANAGEMENT
HAZARD
AVOIDANCE
AFCS
ADDITIONAL
FEATURES
APPENDICESINDEX
SYSTEM
OVERVIEW
FLIGHT
INSTRUMENTS
EICAS
AUDIO PANEL
& CNS
FLIGHT
MANAGEMENT
HAZARD
AVOIDANCE
AFCS
ADDITIONAL
FEATURES
APPENDICESINDEX
RADAR SIGNAL REFLECTIVITY
Precipitation
Precipitationorobjectsmoredensethanwater,suchasthesurfaceoftheearthorsolidstructures,are
detectedbytheweatherradar.Theweatherradardoesnotdetectclouds,thunderstorms,orturbulence
directly.Itdetectsprecipitationassociatedwithclouds,thunderstorms,andturbulence.Thebestradar
signalreectorsareraindrops,wetsnow,orwethail.Thelargertheraindrop,thebetterthereectivity.The
sizeoftheprecipitationdropletisthemostimportantfactorinradarreectivity.Becauselargedropsina
small concentrated area are characteristic of a severe thunderstorm, the radar displays the storm as a strong
return.Icecrystals,drysnow,anddryhailhavelowlevelsofreectivityasshownintheillustration,and
oftenisnotdisplayedbytheradar.Additionally,acloudthatcontainsonlysmallraindrops,suchasfogor
drizzle,doesnotreectenoughradarenergytoproduceameasurabletargetreturn.
Figure 6-46 Precipitation Type and Reflectivity