Statistics on Attenuation of Microwaves by Intense Rain

Abstract

Heavy rainfall and associated attenuation at centimeter and millimeter wavelengths are discussed. Measured attenuations are combined with path-rainfall statistics obtained from a rain-gauge network to produce plots of attenuation versus path length for a given probability of fading. Under the assumption that the spatial behavior of heavy rain is similar at various locations, the path-average rainfall statistics are combined with highly resolved point rain rates for geographically separated places to produce attenuation data appropriate to those places. Dual parallel-path-diversity is also evaluated; it is shown to be a very advantageous arrangement.