Method for prediction of attenuation on earth-space links based on radar measurements of the physical structure of rainfall

Abstract

A new method for prediction of attenuation on earth-space links is presented, which is more rigorous in relation to modelling the physical characteristics of rainstorms than previously published techniques. It is also more accurate in providing attenuation predictions for the European region than all other published methods. The method has been derived nonempirically, based entirely on the structure of storms as observed on a dual-polarisation radar and interpreted using scattering theory.