Definition
A ground-based radar installation that scans the surrounding airspace to detect, locate, and track precipitation and severe weather activity such as thunderstorms, heavy rain, hail, and tornadic circulation. The data is processed and distributed to forecasters, controllers, and pilots to support flight planning and weather avoidance.
Plain English
A radar on the ground that watches the sky for storms and bad weather, then shares what it sees with weather offices, air traffic control, and pilots.
Context Anchor
Seen in weather, air traffic control, and airport operations discussions, especially when ground facilities are providing weather information to pilots.
Derivation
Radar' comes from 'radio detection and ranging' — using radio waves to find objects and measure how far away they are. A ground weather surveillance radar applies that same principle from a fixed site on the ground, aimed at watching weather rather than aircraft.
Why Pilots Care
Gives pilots and controllers real-time awareness of weather hazards so they can reroute or delay flights to avoid turbulence, icing, or severe storms.
Grounding Statement
Picture a radar antenna on the ground scanning the sky and showing where weather returns are located.
Intuition Check
Do not read “ground” as “weather only on the ground.” Here it means the radar equipment is ground-based and watches weather in the surrounding airspace.
Example Sentence 1
The dispatcher checked the ground weather surveillance radar system before releasing the flight, noting a line of thunderstorms moving across the route.
Example Sentence 2
Updated images from the Ground Weather Surveillance Radar System showed a line of thunderstorms moving toward the arrival corridor.