Remember reading somewhere that the radar can now pick up the movement of nitrogen molecules, well apparently they always could, just they were designed to filter them out in older radar types, newer types have better digital processing to allow this to be picked up.
Can you give us a source for this information?
I personally find it very hard for the radar to pick up molecles... maybe it can pick up aerosol particles... but not nitrogen molecues...imho
I know a lot of research has been done on LIDARS whch are able to pick up the doppler effect using aerosols (therefore working even without the presence of precip).
However I never heard of this technique being implemented YET. It was research that is still ongoing. The cost to retrofit existing aircraft is the main obstacle... as always.
As far as airborne wx radars being able to detect aerosols, I would appreciate any information. I am familiar with ground-based wx radars but I never heard of an airborne radar being able to do that.
Thanks,
palgia