Which condition is monitored by weather RADAR among others?

Weather radar specifically monitors precipitation rates, making it an essential tool for understanding weather conditions. It emits radio waves that bounce off precipitation particles, such as raindrops, snowflakes, or hailstones. By analyzing the intensity of the returned signals, meteorologists can determine how much precipitation is occurring in a specific area and even estimate the rainfall rate. This data is crucial for predicting severe weather events like thunderstorms or heavy rainfall, as well as for issuing warnings to the public.

The other conditions, like visibility, temperature variations, and flight traffic patterns, are observed through different means. Visibility is often assessed through visibility sensors or human observation rather than radar. Temperature measurements are obtained from thermometers and weather stations. Flight traffic patterns are monitored through air traffic control systems and radar specifically for aircraft, rather than for meteorological purposes. Thus, the focus of weather radar is distinctly on precipitation characteristics, underscoring why monitoring precipitation rates is the correct aspect associated with it.