This archive report was first published on 17 September 2019.
Published on September 17, 2019, a new radar technology has been making waves in the field of meteorology, allowing scientists to detect and track massive swarms of insects in real-time.
According to Doug Kahn, a meteorologist at the National Weather Service in Cleveland, Ohio, the dual-polarization radar used by the Weather Service can provide an almost 3-D image of whatever may be in the atmosphere, allowing meteorologists to figure out what is in the air even before they can see it in person.
"There are millions of them," Mr. Kahn said, referring to a swarm of dragonflies he observed on the radar. "That is why you can see so many of them on the radar."
Radars like the ones used by the Weather Service are often used to track the seasonal movements of bees, birds, flies, and other airborne creatures. Migration is common in insects and birds, according to Sara Kross, director of the master's program in ecology, evolution, and conservation biology at Columbia University.
"We now can predict when we will see waves of birds all through radar and knowledge," Dr. Kross said. "Right now, because of radar, we can see it happening in real time."
By analyzing the data from the radar, scientists can determine the size and composition of the insect swarms, allowing them to better understand the intricacies of insect migration.
