What term describes a reading resulting from the unintentional interception of signals from a moving object?

The term that describes a reading resulting from the unintentional interception of signals from a moving object is interference. Interference occurs when the signals from different sources overlap and affect the intended signal, leading to inaccuracies in the readings. In the context of RADAR and LIDAR, interference can arise from reflections off of moving objects or environmental factors, which can complicate signal interpretation and reduce the clarity of the data collected.

This phenomenon is particularly relevant in environments where multiple signals are present, such as urban areas or places with many reflective surfaces, leading to the unintentional capture of signals that can distort the output. In contrast, other terms like disruption may imply an interruption of service or function, noise typically refers to unwanted variations in a signal that result from various external sources, and signal loss denotes a complete failure to capture the intended signal, rather than merely interfering with it. Thus, interference is the most accurate term for describing the situation where signals from moving objects unintentionally impact the readings obtained.