Back Echoes and Reflection

If a radar is sited in view of a large, flat, non horizontal, reflecting surface such as the side of a building, reflections of meteorological targets (and permanent echoes) may be observed in that 'false' direction. Every attempt is made to avoid this situation when siting a radar, but it is not always possible to avoid being ‘built out’ later. Multiple reflections, producing several returns of energy to the radar from different directions but the same target may occur in built up areas.