That makes sense. I remember watching the weather on tv when I was a kid, and you could literally see the spinning line "updating" the rain info in real time.
The "radar" spinny thing is a special effect to make it look all tech. The actual radar at that location collects information using a rotating antenna, but computers compile and analyze the information in multiple atmospheric layers, in 6 to 10 minute batches. The output image is then sent to the feed used by TV stations and others for public display in a form people can easily understand.
Further information about the WSR-88D NEXRAD radar system here.
The line has always been fake - BUT at one time it did have a purpose - it indicated where the radar antenna was pointing at the moment - where the data was the freshest.
The energy reflections echoed back to the antenna would "burn" into the phosphors at that point as would linger and fade over time until the sweep swung back around.
I'm kinda surprised how many people thought it was real tbh, I don't think the line has done anything for as long as I can remember. I guess people just don't watch the news anymore?
Yeah, if it's historical data in an animation, you shouldn't be showing the spinning line just because it looks more sci-fi. For real-time data (e.g where it's raining right now), it's perfectly adequate (but use the real one).
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u/neuropsycho 1d ago
I don't quite get it, is the radar spinning line real? Why are the radar images updated before the radar does its pass?