Prediction of rain effects on earth‐space communication links operating in the 10 to 35 GHZ frequency range

Abstract

This paper reviews the effects of precipitation on earth‐space communication links operating the 10 to 35 GHz frequency range. Emphasis is on the quantitative prediction of rain attenuation and depolarization. Discussions centre on the models developed at Virginia Tech. Comments on other models are included as well as literature references to key works. Also included is the system level modelling for dual polarized communication systems with techniques for calculating antenna and propagation medium effects. Simple models for the calculation of average annual attenuation and cross‐polarization discrimination (XPD) are presented. Calculation of worst month statistics are also presented.

Effect of raindrop size distribution and rain rate inhomogeneity on the relationship between attenuation and depolarization

“…Many Ka-band beams will be used to deliver broadband internet to much of Africa. Although the Ka-band can contain much information and can lead to high-speed communication, it is highly sensitive to rain [2,3]. The reason for this sensitivity is that rain not only attenuates the power of the signal along the propagation path but it also can change the polarization of the signal because of the shape of the raindrops, as shown in Figure 1.…”