Estimating Rain Attenuation at 72 and 84 GHz From Raindrop Size Distribution Measurements in Albuquerque, NM, USA

Abstract

The raindrop size distribution (DSD) is essential information for understanding rain attenuation effects at millimeter wavelengths. The DSD was measured in Albuquerque, NM, USA, as a part of the W/V-band Terrestrial Link Experiment. An optical disdrometer from Thies Clima was used to measure both size and velocity of rain droplets. The measured DSD consistently showed a unique property of two log-linear distributions regionally separable by drop size under variable rain rates. The functional fit that best represents our measured data with rain rates under 40 mm/h is presented. Based on the DSD, rain specific attenuation is estimated at 72 and 84 GHz with Mie scattering theory. These estimated rain attenuations can be used and validated for rain attenuation analysis of the millimeter wave propagation experiments under similar climate conditions. This letter will guide millimeter wave communication system designers to estimate the rain attenuation based on their own DSD measurements.