Describe the Doppler effect and how it is applied with Doppler radar to study thunderstorms and severe storms

Question

What will be an ideal response?

Answer 1

Answer: Just as we are able to distinguish different colors of light by their wavelengths, so can we differentiate sounds by the length of their sound waves. If an object making a sound is moving away from a listener, the sound waves are stretched out and assume a lower pitch. Sound waves are compressed when an object moves toward the listener, making them higher pitched. We use this principle, called the Doppler effect, to determine whether an ambulance siren is coming closer or moving away. If the pitch of the siren seems to become higher, we know the ambulance is getting nearer. A similar process occurs when electromagnetic waves are reflected by a moving object: The energy shifts to shorter wavelengths when reflected by an object moving toward the receiver and to longer wavelengths as it bounces off an object moving away from the receiver. Doppler radar is a type of radar system that takes advantage of this principle. It allows us to observe the movement of raindrops and ice particles (and thus determine wind speed and direction) from the shift in wavelength of the radar waves, as well as the intensity of precipitation.