Bogong moths showing up on weather radar as false rain
Bogong moths migrating across eastern NSW show up on weather radars as phantom rain signals.
Weather radars designed to detect rain are being fooled by bogong moths migrating south. Radio pulses meant to bounce off water droplets return as rain echoes.
Instead, they may be reflecting off the insects' bodies and wings. This creates false rain signals on the screen.
The Bureau of Meteorology confirms radars across eastern NSW are likely picking up the massive swarms. This happens especially near sunrise and sunset.
Scientists see this as a breakthrough. The radar data could help them track the moths' movement across hundreds of kilometres.
Researchers have relied on physical tagging and newspaper reports to trace the route. Flying foxes show up similarly on radar.
Researchers now hope to use the same technology to track bogong moths as they migrate.
- Eastern NSW, near sunrise and sunset
- Detection zones
- Dr Kate Umbers, Western Sydney University
- Researcher
- Hundreds of kilometres
- Tracking distance
Why it mattersWeather forecasts across NSW have been misleading when they show rain where none falls. Scientists have found an unexpected tool to track one of Australia's rarest insect journeys.
AustraliaAustralians in eastern NSW checking the weather radar may see phantom rain signals, while scientists gain new data to protect the endangered bogong moth population.
✓ Claims checked against the source and corrected before publish. checked 2 h ago
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