Which factor contributes to terrain-induced shadowing in radar systems?

Terrain-induced shadowing occurs when the radar signal is obstructed by physical features in the environment, such as buildings, hills, or other obstacles. This obstruction can create areas where the radar signals cannot reach, resulting in reduced detection capabilities in those regions. The physical geography significantly impacts the radar's ability to effectively transmit and receive signals, leading to blind spots or shadowed areas.

Other factors such as weather patterns, signal degradation over distances, and limited radar power output can affect radar performance, but they do not specifically cause terrain-induced shadowing. Instead, they may impact the clarity or range of the radar signals in different ways, such as reducing signal quality or affecting the maximum distance a radar can effectively operate, but they are not the direct cause of the shadowing phenomenon related to the terrain.