BOM Radar Loop – Mornington Island

4 February, 2013
Author: Charles Hodgson

  • Location: Gununa (lat 16.67° S, long 139.17° E)
  • Type: WF 100 C-Band
  • Availability (Typical): 24 hours per day

Interpretation Notes

Mornington Island radar has a good view of the surrounding area – mostly the Gulf of Carpentaria and low lying coastal areas of the Gulf country. Sea-breeze convergence lines can return false echoes (anomalous propagation), as can strong temperature inversions in the lower levels of the atmosphere. Path attenuation also occurs when the radar beam passes through an intense thunderstorm cell; the returned signal from cells further along that path will be reduced. Apart from these features, the radar performs well and gives a reasonably accurate representation of rainfall intensity.