What are base reflectivity cross section images produced with?

Question

I'm thinking that at least one way to produce these is with RHI (range height indicator) where the azimuth angle is held constant while the radar beam elevation angle is varied. Returns can then be mapped on a vertical plane. Is this correct? Are there other technologies to produce BR cross section images with as well?

Answer 1

Holding the azimuth angle constant while changing the beam elevation is what we use to do with the old 57S, 74C, and the 100S weather radars to display a cross section on the RHI scope.  The two major limitations with this old method.  One was that you can not take out the some of the false echoes from bad returns.  Two, you were limited to the one angle of azimuth (the slice angle when connect the beam from the radar to the storm cell).  

With the current computer program, all you need to do is draw a line through the displayed cell on the monitor at any angle or anyway you want to slice the storm and then run the program to produce the graphic.  You can even do a velocity vertical cross section too.   It is that simple.  You can even animated it by running a program to take a slice every certain amount of time (but must be greater than 6 minutes apart per graphic due to the time limitations needed to collect the radar multiple sweap data needed for each set of data).  Cross sections are plotted in the vertical plane.  There are many ways the computer can do to display all the data...just too many to list for this answer.