What happens to reflectivity spikes from Three-Body Scattering as radial extent increases?

Reflectivity spikes resulting from Three-Body Scattering diminish as the radial extent increases due to the inherent nature of the scattering process. Three-Body Scattering occurs when a radar beam interacts with more than one target, typically with the presence of a third body, creating reflections that are stronger in proximity to the radar.

As one moves further from the radar, the intensity of these reflectivity spikes generally decreases for a couple of reasons. First, the scattering strength diminishes with increased distance due to the inverse square law, which states that the intensity of any point source of energy is inversely proportional to the square of the distance from the source. Essentially, as the radar beam travels further, the scattered signal from these interactions becomes weaker.

Additionally, at greater distances, other atmospheric factors can further obscure or weaken the signal received by the radar, making Three-Body Scattering less significant. Therefore, it is expected that the reflectivity spikes would not only lower in magnitude but also become less pronounced as one moves radially outward from the radar location. This understanding of the behavior of radar signals is critical for interpreting data and recognizing potential anomalies in meteorological observations.