Essentially all tornadoes have the mesocylone feature. Microburst photo by Bill Bunting Microbursts, one form of wind shear, are also detectable with Doppler radar, however the physical features seen by the operator are usually seen after the phenomenia is already occurring. Several terrible aircraft accidents have been attributed to this phenomenia over the years. Doppler radar can detect wind shear, and the Federal Aviation Agency is in the process of installing Doppler radars at selected airfields to hopefully prevent wind shear accidents. Thin blue line surrounding thunderstorm is outflow winds moving outward from thunderstorm complex.
Return is from temperature discontinuties, dust and probably insects.
If the Doppler radar is sensitive enough, other phenomena can be detected. Such things as birds, insects, smoke and ash can be detected. At Montgomery, Al. forest fire smoke was detected and tracked on the environmental winds for several hours. In Florida birds and insects have been detected with the Melborne Doppler radar. Doppler radars afford new challenges and opportunities.