Patent ID: 7205928

Claim:
A method for operating a radar system to provide an image of a storm to a pilot of an aircraft, the storm including at least a bright band region and a body, the method comprising the steps of: determining an altitude of the aircraft; if the altitude is equal to or less than a predetermined datum altitude: scanning, with a radar beam, at least the bright band region of the storm without a significant portion of the radar beam striking nearby terrain features to provide a substantially ground clutter free storm image; if the altitude is greater than the predetermined datum altitude: performing at least a first scan and a second scan, wherein the first scan is aimed at an upper portion of the storm so as to determine a storm head perimeter substantially free of ground clutter, and the second scan is aimed at the storm body so as to determine a radar image of the storm body and any associated ground clutter; preserving radar echoes from the second scan that lie on or within the storm head perimeter, and discarding any radar echoes from the second scan that lie outside the storm head perimeter to provide a substantially ground clutter free storm image; and presenting the substantially ground clutter free storm image to the pilot.