Navigation General · Radar Principles
To reduce sea clutter on a radar display, the operator should adjust:
- AThe FTC (Fast Time Constant) or rain clutter control
- BThe STC (Sensitivity Time Control) or sea clutter control✓ Correct
- CThe antenna rotation rate
- DThe pulse repetition frequency (PRF)
Explanation
Sea clutter is suppressed using the STC (Sensitivity Time Control) control, which reduces receiver sensitivity for the short ranges where wave returns appear. FTC (Fast Time Constant) — also called the rain or differentiation control — reduces rain clutter by differentiating the signal to enhance target edges. Overusing either control can eliminate real targets.
Authority: Radar Navigation Manual (Pub. 1310), Ch. 2
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