How can weather conditions impact radar performance?

Weather conditions significantly impact radar performance primarily through the attenuation of radar signals and degradation of detection capabilities. Various factors, such as rain, snow, fog, and other atmospheric phenomena, can interfere with the radar signals. For instance, heavy precipitation can absorb or scatter radar waves, leading to reduced signal strength and consequently making it more difficult to detect objects accurately. This attenuation can result in weaker echoes or even complete loss of signal in severe weather conditions, leading to potential blind spots in radar coverage.

Other options do not accurately reflect the behavior of radar in relation to weather. For instance, while clear conditions can indeed provide better signal clarity, adverse weather inherently introduces challenges that impact performance negatively. Also, suggesting that weather has no effect on radar signals overlooks the well-documented interactions between radar waves and various environmental conditions. Furthermore, while certain types of weather might influence the propagation of radar waves, they do not generally increase radar range; the opposite is often true, as adverse conditions tend to limit the effective operational range of radar systems.