What is meant by the "cone of silence" in relation to WSR-88Ds?

The "cone of silence" in relation to WSR-88D (Weather Surveillance Radar, 88 Doppler) refers to the phenomenon where there is a temporary period of reduced sensitivity to weak returns because of the radar's duplexer protecting the receiver from the strong signals reflected back from nearby objects or precipitation. During the radar's transmission phase, particularly at closer ranges, the powerful radar pulses can overwhelm the receiver, necessitating a "silence" period to avoid damage or misinterpretation of the data.

This context of the cone of silence is particularly important because it defines how radars balance the need to generate strong signals for distance measurements while concurrently ensuring that the receiver is not overwhelmed by those strong returns. This is a critical consideration for accurate precipitation data collection, as any return signals that overlap with the transmission period may not be registered, leading to potential gaps in data integrity for close-range targets.

Understanding this concept is essential for interpreting radar data, as it can affect the perceived intensity and position of precipitation echoes, particularly in environments with significant close-range reflectivity such as thunderstorms.