Multipath Reflection
A radar signal that bounces off multiple surfaces before returning to the receiver, creating false echoes that can be mistaken for real objects.
A radar phenomenon where electromagnetic signals reflect off two or more surfaces—such as the ground, buildings, or atmospheric layers—before returning to the receiver. These indirect paths create duplicate or distorted echoes that can appear as separate targets, complicating interpretation of radar data and potentially leading to false detections.
What this means in real life
A radar beam bounces off the ground, then off a cloud layer, then back down to the receiver, making a single raindrop appear as multiple objects at different altitudes on the display.
What it isn’t
It is not the same as a single reflection or echo. Multipath specifically requires the signal to bounce off at least two different surfaces; a direct reflection from one object is not multipath.
Commonly misused online
People often use it interchangeably with 'radar clutter' or 'false radar return,' but multipath is a specific mechanism—multiple bounces—not a catch-all term for any radar error.
Based on 2 reference sources, including government sources. Last verified July 16, 2026.