Rain attenuation is an important aspect of signal propagation above 10 GHz frequency. The attenuation time series generation from point rain rate measurement is crucial due to unavailability of actual signal measurements. In this paper, a simple and realistic approach has been demonstrated for better estimation of rain attenuation using Ku-band signal propagation data and ground rain rate measurements at Kolkata, India. The ITU-R model of rain attenuation has been modified by incorporating an effective slant path model. The effective slant path has been estimated and modelled in terms of a power-law relationship of rain rate data of 2007-2008. The methodology has been validated with the measured data of 2006. Comparison with ITU-R and SAM clearly demonstrates the improved predictability of the proposed model at the present tropical location.
2. Ippolito, , L. J., "Radio Wave Propagation in Satellite Communication," Van Nostrand Reinhold Company, 1986.
doi:10.1109/MAP.2004.1305532
3. Green, H. E., "Propagation impairment on Ka-band SATCOM links in tropical and equatorial regions," IEEE Antennas and Propagation Magazine, Vol. 46, No. 2, 2004.
4. Maitra, A., S. Das, and A. K. Shukla, "Joint statistics of rain rate and event duration for a tropical location in India," Indian Journal of Radio & Space Physics, Vol. 38, 353-360, 2009.
doi:10.2528/PIERB10062105
5. Abdulrahman, A. Y., T. A. Rahman, S. K. A. Rahim, and M. R. Ul Islam, "A new rain attenuation conversion technique for tropical regions," Progress In Electromagnetics Research B, Vol. 26, 53-67, 2010.
doi:10.1175/1520-0450(2001)040<2053:UOTSRT>2.0.CO;2
6. Meneghini, , R., T., Iguchi, T. Kozu, L. Liao, K. Okamoto, J. A. Jones, and J. Kwiatkowski, "Use of the surface reference technique for path attenuation estimates from the TRMM precipitation radar," Journal of Applied Meteorology, Vol. 39, 2053-2070, 2000.
7. Moupfouma, F., "Rain induced attenuation prediction model for terrestrial and satellite-earth microwave links,", Vol. 42, 539-550, 1987.
8. International Telecommunication Union, "Specific attenuation model for rain for use in prediction methods," Recommendation ITU-R, 838-3, 2005.
doi:10.1049/el:20000667
9. Maitra, A., "Three-parameter raindrop size distribution modelling at a tropical location," Electronics Letters, Vol. 36, No. 10, 906-907, 2000.
doi:10.1029/2008RS004093
10. Shukla, A. K., , B. Roy, S. Das, A. R. Charania, K. S. Kavaiya, K. Bandyopadhyay, and K. S. Dasgupta, "Micro rain cell measurements in tropical India for site diversity fade mitigation estimation," Radio Science, Vol. 45, RS1002, 2010.
doi:10.1016/j.asr.2010.01.001
11. Das, S., , A. K. Shukla, and A. Maitra, "Investigation of vertical pro¯le of rain microstructure at Ahmedabad in Indian tropical region," Advance in Space Research, Vol. 45, No. 10, 1235-1243, 2010.
doi:10.1002/sat.4600080311
12. Ajayi, , G. O. and F. Barbaliscia, "Prediction of attenuation due to rain: Characteristics of the 0±C isotherm in temperate and tropical climates," International Journal of Satellite Communication, Vol. 8, 187-196, 1990.
13. Maitra, A. , K. Chakravarty, and , "Ku-band rain attenuation observation on an earth space path in the Indian region," 28th URSI-GA,, 2005.
14. Maitra, , A., , K. Chakravarty, S. Bhattacharya, and A. Bahgchi, "Propagation studies at Ku band over an earth{space path," Proceedings of the International Conference on Computers and Devices for Communication, 645-648, 2006.
doi:10.1109/LAWP.2009.2015969
15. Maitra, A. and K. Chakravarty, "Rain depolarization measurements on low margin Ku- band satellite signal at a tropical location," IEEE Antennas Wireless Propagation Letters, Vol. 8, 445-448, 2009.
doi:10.1016/j.jastp.2009.10.018
16. Chakravarty, , K., and A. Maitra, "Rain attenuation studies over an earth-space path at a tropical location," Journal of Atmospheric Solar Terrestrial Physics, Vol. 72, 135-138, 2010.
doi:10.1016/j.jastp.2010.11.010
17. Adhikari, , A. and A. Maitra, "Studies on the inter-relation of Ku-band scintillations and rain attenuation over an earth-space path on the basis of their static and dynamic spectral analysis," Journal of Atmospheric and Solar-Terrestrial Physics, Vol. 73, 516-527, 2011.
doi:10.1007/s10762-010-9757-2
18. Sharma, P., , I. S. Hudiara, and M. L. Singh, "Estimation of path length reduction factor by using one year rain attenuation statistics over a line of sight link operating at 28.75 GHz in Amritsar (INDIA)," Journal of Infrared, Millimeter and Terahertz Waves, Vol. 32, 137-142, 2011.
doi:10.1029/RS017i006p01465
19. Stutzman, W. L. and W. K. Dishman, "A simple model for the estimation of rain-induced attenuation along earth-space paths at millimeter wavelengths," Radio Science, Vol. 17, 1465-1476, 1982.
doi:10.1109/TAP.1978.1141845
20. Olsen, , R. L., , D. V. Rogers, and D. B. Hodge, "The aRb relation in the calculation of rain attenuation," IEEE Transaction on Antennas and Propagation, Vol. 26, 318-329, 1978.
doi:10.1029/2008RS004093
21. Shukla, , A. K., B. Roy, S. Das, A. R. Charania, K. S. Kavaiya, K. Bandyopadhyay, and K. S. Dasgupta, , "Micro rain cell measurements in tropical India for site diversity fade mitigation estimation," Radio Science, Vol. Vol. 45, RS1002, 2010.
22. Das, S., A. Maitra, and , "Rain characteristics with MRR observation at a tropical location," National Space Science Symposium, 2010.
23. Berne, , A. , R. Uijlenhoet, and , "Path-averaged rainfall estimation using microwave links: Uncertainty due to spatial rainfall variability," Geophysical Research Letters,, Vol. 34, L07403, , 2007.
doi:10.1175/2010JHM1243.1
24. Leijnse, , H., , R. Uijlenhoet, and A. Berne, "Errors and uncertainties in microwave link rainfall estimation explored using drop size measurements and high-resolution radar data," Journal of Hydrometeorology, Vol. 11, 1330-1344, 2010.