What happens to signal quality as beamwidths decrease in radar systems?

As beamwidths in radar systems decrease, the signal quality improves primarily due to several factors related to the focusing of the radar energy. A narrower beamwidth means that the radar can concentrate its energy more effectively on a smaller area, allowing for better resolution and the ability to discriminate between closely spaced targets. This enhanced focus reduces the effects of clutter and interference from other sources, leading to a clearer and more accurate signal.

Additionally, with a narrower beamwidth, the radar can achieve a higher signal-to-noise ratio. This results from the fact that the radar is less likely to receive unwanted signals from surrounding areas, thus improving the quality of the detected return signals. The overall effect is that a radar system with a smaller beamwidth can detect and interpret signals more precisely, resulting in improved performance and reliability in tracking and analyzing meteorological phenomena.