Garmin SOCATA TBM850, Pilot'S Manual

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190-00709-04 Rev. A
Garmin G1000 Pilot’s Guide for the Socata TBM 850
319
HAZARD AVOIDANCE
Displaying NEXRAD weather information:
1)
Select the MAP Softkey (for the PFD Inset Map, select the INSET Softkey). This step is not necessary on the
Weather Data Link (XM) Page.
2) Select the
NEXRAD
Softkey.
Composite data from all the NEXRAD radar sites in the United States is shown. This data is composed of
the maximum reflectivity from the individual radar sweeps. The display of the information is color-coded
to indicate the weather severity level. All weather product legends can be viewed on the Weather Data Link
(XM) Page. For the NEXRAD legend, select the
LEGEND Softkey when NEXRAD is selected for display.
No Radar
Coverage
Figure 6-11 NEXRAD Data with Legend
The display of radar coverage is always active when either NEXRAD or Echo Tops is selected. Areas where
NEXRAD radar coverage and Echo Tops information is not currently available or is not being collected are
indicated in a gray shade of purple.
R
eFlectivity
Reflectivity is the amount of transmitted power returned to the radar receiver. Colors on the NEXRAD
display directly correlate to the level of detected reflectivity. Reflectivity as it relates to hazardous weather
can be very complex.
The role of radar is essentially to detect moisture in the atmosphere. Simply put, certain types of weather
reflect radar better than others. The intensity of a radar reflection is not necessarily an indication of the
weather hazard level. For instance, wet hail returns a strong radar reflection, while dry hail does not. Both
wet and dry hail can be extremely hazardous.