Overview

• A University of Manchester team modeled global airport radar emissions and found a combined output of 2×10^15 watts, detectable up to 200 light-years by telescopes comparable to the Green Bank Telescope.
• Military radar systems generate directional pulses with peak outputs of about 1×10^14 watts, which can appear up to a hundred times stronger from certain vantage points and look distinctly artificial.
• Simulations tracing emissions toward stars such as Barnard’s Star and AU Microscopii reveal how Earth’s radar signature varies over time and observer location.
• Researchers argue that any civilization with extensive aviation and defense radar could unintentionally emit technosignatures similar to Earth’s microwave leakage.
• Findings underscore the need to revise SETI target selection and to implement radio spectrum protections and future radar designs that limit unintentional interstellar broadcasts.