Scattering of radiowaves by a melting layer of precipitation inbackward and forward directions

A melting layer of precipitation is composed of melting snowflakes (snow particles); the assumption of spherical particles along with mass conservation is used. The melting layer is studied by deriving the size distribution of the melting snow particles, the thickness of a melting layer, the density of a dry snow particle, and the average dielectric constant of a melting snow particle. Vertical profiles of radar reflectivity and specific attenuation are computed at 1-100 GHz by using the Mie theory for five raindrop size distributions at rain rates below 12.5 mm/h. The radar bright band is explained with computed radar reflectivities at 3-10 GHz. It is shown that the radar bright band can be absent in the melting layer at frequencies above 20 GHz. This agrees with radar observations at 35 and 94 GHz. The specific attenuation, as well as the average specific attenuation of the melting layer, is divided into absorption part and scattering part. The latter is increasingly significant with the increase of frequency. The total zenith attenuation due to stratiform rain is divided into the rain zenith attenuation and the additional zenith attenuation, which is the difference between zenith attenuation, due to the melting layer, and attenuation, due to the same path length of the resulting rain. The additional zenith attenuation increases with the increase of rain rate even at frequencies above 20 GHz. This should be taken into account in radar remote sensing and satellite-Earth communications     

Bistatic scattering of radiowaves by a melting layer ofprecipitation

This paper addresses bistatic scattering of radiowaves by the melting layer of precipitation. The bistatic radar reflectivities are formulated and can be computed at 1-100 GHz by applying the Mie theory for five raindrop-size distributions at rain rates below 12.5 mm/h. Examples computed at 35 GHz are presented. This original bistatic scatter calculation is not only of substantial guidance into bistatic scattering of radiowaves by the real melting layer of precipitation, but also should be appropriate for considering the interference problems including the melting layer effects for engineering purposes     

Backward and forward scattering by the melting layer composed ofspheroidal hydrometeors at 5-100 GHz

This paper addresses the behavior of the differential reflectivity, specific attenuation, and specific phase shift due to a melting layer composed of oblate-spheroidal hydrometeors. The results are based on a melting layer model and scattering computations derived from the point-matching technique with the truncation and recurrence adjusted. Computations at 5-100 GHz for five raindrop size distributions at rain rates below 12.5 mm/h are presented. In general, the reflectivity factor and differential reflectivity features with height at centimeter wavelengths agree with available radar measurements. At millimeter wavelengths, contributions to the radar backscatter from smaller hydrometeors become more and more important as the frequency increases and approaches 100 GHz. This should be instructive for utilizing millimeter wavelength radar techniques in radar remote sensing studies of the melting layer. Corresponding vertical profiles of the specific attenuation and phase shift are also presented at 5-100 GHz. The differential attenuation and phase shift indicate the particle shape effects. These attenuation and phase shift become more and more considerable as the frequency increases. Such forward scattering calculations should prove useful for studying propagation effects caused by the melting layer for satellite-earth communications, including depolarizations     

A simplified approach to the evaluation of EMW propagationcharacteristics in rain and melting snow

Electromagnetic propagation characteristics in rain and melting snow are calculated by treating these media as artificial dielectrics. Computed values of attenuation and phase shift in rain, obtained by this approach, are compared with those derived by using Mie scattering theory over a frequency range of 1-1000 GHz and for rain rates up to 100 mm/h. Very close agreement is generally obtained over these entire ranges. Melting snow is treated in the same manner, where comparison is possible these results tend to agree well with the available, but rather limited, published data. Attenuation and phase shift are calculated as a function of the degree of melting of the snow particles. Subject to assumptions relating the degree of melting to depth in the melting layer, average values of attenuation and phase shift are computed as functions of frequency. The attenuation values compare well with those derived from an empirical formula over the range of its validity     

Rain attenuation at 15 and 35 GHz

In order to satisfy future earth-to-space communications needs, new regions of the electromagnetic spectrum must be exploited. A program to determine the feasibility of using millimeter waves for this application has been conducted at Air Force Cambridge Research Laboratories (AFCRL) for approximately 6 years and it has been shown that at frequencies of 15 GHz (lambda = 2.0cm) and 35 GHz (lambda = 8.6mm) atmospheric attenuation is relatively low except for conditions of heavy clouds and precipitation. A portable radiometric system designed to measure attenuation at 15 and 35 GHz under conditions of precipitation was constructed and located in Hilo, Hawaii, a region where it rains frequently thus making it possible to conduct many attenuation measurements for varying rainfall rates. Attenuation was determined from both extinction and emission measurements as a function of zenith angle and rain rate. On the basis of the results that were obtained, it is concluded that for orographic rain up to rates of 50 mm/h in Hawaii: 1) attenuations up to approximately 10 dB can be calculated quite accurately from an emission measurement; 2) zenith attenuations are well correlated with rain rate and can be estimated from the regression lines which have been obtained; 3) attenuations at angles off zenith are not as well correlated with rain rate and thus the values obtained from the regression lines are only approximate; 4) attenuations at 15 and 35 GHz are well correlated.     

Cloud Characteristics and Cloud Attenuation in Millimeter Wave and Microwave Frequency Bands for Satellite and Remote Sensing Applications over a Northern Indian Tropical Station

Microwave and millimeter wave frequency bands are in demand for requirement of more channels in radio communication systems. It has also been recognized that microwave and millimeterwave frequency radiometers on board satellites as promising tools for remote sensing. The frequency more than 10 GHz is affected by rain and cloud. Though the effects of rain on radiowave is more than cloud but the occurence of cloud is more than rain. Cloud has been found to occur for weeks together over this part of the world. It is therefore essential to study cloud morphology over different geographical region. In this paper, an attempt has been made to the cloud occurrences over an Indian tropical station, Delhi (28.35°N, 77.12°E) observed during different months and daytime and nighttime. It is seen that low clouds occurrence over Delhi is very significant and particularly during July, August and September. The specific attenuation of radiowave due to clouds at various frequencies 10 GHz, 20 GHz, 50 GHz and 100 GHz has been deduced. The specific attenuation of radio wave due to cloud at 10 GHz varies from 0.0608 dB/km to 0.1190 dB/km while at 100 GHz the specific attenuation varies from 6.8460 dB/km to 11.9810 dB/km     

Backscatter and attenuation by falling snow and rain at 96, 140,and 225 GHz

The results of measurements are presented for backscatter cross section per unit volume and attenuation for falling snow and rain at 96, 140, and 225 GHz. The attenuation due to rain is almost independent of the measurement frequency, but for snow the attenuation is considerably greater at 225 GHz than at 96 GHz. The rain attenuation generally varies with the rain accumulation rate in accordance with an aR^b relationship for a Laws and Parsons drop-size distribution where R is the rain rate and a and b are constants. The attenuation at all three frequencies is about 3 dB/km for a rain rate of 4 mm/h. The attenuation due to snow varies with airborne snow-mass concentration, with the average rates of increase being 0.9, 2.5, and 8.7 (dB/km)(g/m³) at 96, 140, and 225 GHz, respectively. Generally the attenuation for snow is lower than that for rain. The backscatter cross section per unit volume for rain at 96 GHz is about -35 dB m²/m³ for a rain rate of 4 mm/h. The backscatter from snow at 96 GHz is much lower than that from rain under equivalent accumulation rates or airborne mass concentrations. Snow backscatter at 140 GHz is comparable but higher than that at 96 GHz     

降雨对雷达探测性能的影响

文中拟合得到了由降雨的雷达体反射率反演雨衰减率的公式,适用频率1~100 GHz,并且给出了降雨存在时的雷达方程、最大作用距离以及雷达接收信号信噪比与信杂比的变化。文中的结果对降雨存在时雷达的目标检测具有指导意义。     

The role of circular polarization in bistatic radar for mitigation of interference due to rain

Based on the existing theories on scattering from a volume of rain and empirical models on rain drop size distribution and Mie solution of the problem of diffraction by a sphere, it is shown that for radar frequencies below 10 GHz one can realize 10 dB rain rejection by using circular polarization as opposed to linear polarization for bistatic angles of up to90deg.     

Rayleigh-Mie approximation for line-of-sight propagation throughrain at 5-90 GHz

An earlier heuristic model of attenuation and phase changes through a layer of oblate spheroids is replaced by a new, simpler, model with much greater accuracy. The model is meant to cover propagation through rain at 5-90 GHz frequencies and at rain rates from 5-150 mm/hr. Accurate predictions of co and crosspolar attenuation, of co and crosspolar discrimination, and of the various phase changes associated with each polarization of the incident wave are now possible by means of calculations requiring no more than simple numerical extensions of Mie calculations superposed upon the Rayleigh forward-scattering cross sections. Some degree of canting-angle variations is included. Comparison of calculations by this approximation to a variety of empirical or simulated rain statistics available in the literature is presented     

Attenuation in melting snow on microwave- and millimetre-wave terrestrial radio links

The scattering properties of melting snow on microwave and millimetre-wave terrestrial radio links are predicted using a new model for melting which includes coalescence. Attenuation, differential attenuation and differential phase are calculated for a horizontal path, with results at 36.25 GHz presented. Peak specific attenuation in the range 8?13 dB/km is expected for underspread rain with 10?15 mm/h rain rates.     

Measurements of Earth-Space Attenuation at 230 GHz

Measurements of attenuation at 230 GHz through the total atmosphere due to the presence of oxygen and water vapor molecules, clouds, and rain are presented and discussed. The measurements were carried out using a specially designed superhetrodyne receiver mounted on a sun tracker. Simultaneons measurements were also carried out at 13 GHz. For a measuring site close to sea level at Holmdel, NJ, the "clear-sky" zenith attenuation was found to be given by A (dB) = 0.35 rho, where rho was the measured ground water vapor density in g/m/sup 3/. When the ground temperature was below about 7/spl deg/C, most cloud and overcast gave < 0.5 -dB attenuation whereas with a ground temperature greater than 13/spl deg/C, cloud attenuation was 8-10 times greater. Calculations of zenith attenuation in the 230-GHz atmospheric window were also made using the Gross analytic line shape, Schulze-Tolbert empirical line shape, and an empirically modified Gross line shape. These calculations were based on determinations of water vapor density and temperature made at the measurement site, and on radiosonde measurements made at a distance of 80 km away. Measured and calculated results are graphically compared. It is concluded that either the modified Gross line shape or the Schulze-Tolbert line shape gives conservative estimates of zenith attenuation at 230 GHz for clear days, while the Gross line shape gives fair agreement with measured results.     

广州地区1—400GHz降雨传播特性的计算

本文利用广州地区滴尺寸分布模型计算了１－４００ＧＨｚ线极化波雨 致特征衰减和相移，并利用计算的雨衰减和相移值回是了其与降雨率之间的指数关系。     

Frequency dependence of rain attenuation measurements at microwave frequencies

The values of attenuation versus frequency for 10 mm/h, 25 mm/h, and 40 mm/h rain rates for frequencies of 11, 18, and 22.2 GHz are presented. On the basis of these observations the attenuation at frequencies below 10 GHz and above 22.2 GHz have been obtained. The values obtained at various frequencies show an agreement with those calculated on the basis of Oguchi's work. Comparison of the above values in dB/km (assuming a path length of 2.5 km) have been made and they show an agreement with International Radio Consultative Committee (CCIR) values. Also cumulative distributions of attenuation at various frequencies have been given taking 11 GHz results as the reference point.     

Calculations of millimeter wave depolarization due to melting layer and rain

A model for calculating the total depolarization due to the melting layer and rain is proposed under the assumption that oblate spheroidal melting particles and raindrops have the same orientation. The melting layer is composed of the melting particles which are made up from the mixture of ice, air and water. The specific attenuation and the specific phase shift both for the melting layer and for rain are given in the power lawaR ^b form for the rain rates 0≤R≤12.5 mm/h and the parameters are tabled over the frequency range of 1–100 GHz. Using the model, the numerical calculation of the depolarization is possible for three drop size distributions.     

雨衰减的解析近似

本文对Ｌａｗｓ－Ｐａｒｓｏｎｓ和广州雨滴尺寸分布雨衰减和降雨经之间的指数关系中的ａ和ｂ值＾「１」「２」进行了分析和解析回归，给出其与频率的解析近似关系，利用其计算的雨衰减和数值计算结果有很好的一致性。     

Melting layer attenuation at 28.6 GHz from simultaneous comstar beacon and polarisation diversity radar data

Attenuation data at 28.6 GHz obtained from measurements of the Comstar beacon show that, for moderate rain, slant path attenuation may significantly exceed that calculated from simultaneous radar reflectivity measurements. Polarisation diversity radar data were used for positive identification of the rain and the melting layer, and for estimating the rain attenuation along the path. These results indicate that the melting layer attenuation is significant.     

Probability distributions of rain attenuation obtainable with linear combining techniques in space‐to‐Earth links using time diversity

The purpose of this paper is to show how the complementary probability distribution of rain attenuation is drastically changed in the lower rain attenuation range by applying linear combining techniques, namely, equal‐gain combining and the maximal‐ratio combining, discussed in the historical paper by Brennan in 1959. These combing techniques can also be applied to the Automatic Repeat Request techniques. Defined the instantaneous processing gain and the equivalent attenuation in the 3 cases, we show examples of time series of the various parameters, based on the experimental rain attenuation time series recorded with the ITALSAT 18.7 GHz beacon, in a 37.8° slant path in Spino d'Adda (Italy). Then, we report long‐term complementary probability distribution functions of the instantaneous gain and equivalent attenuation, by simulating rain attenuation time series at 19.7 and 39.4 GHz, path elevation angle 35.5°, with the Synthetic Storm Technique, using on‐site measured rain rate time series of 10 years, by simulating the ALPHASAT link at Spino d'Adda. Similar results are also found at different frequencies and elevation angles in Tampa (Advanced Communications Technology Satellite, ACTS result test), the Isle of Guam, and Prague. The main conclusions are as follows: (1) As expected, the instantaneous time diversity gain can be large when the delay time is large and rain attenuation is large; (2) scintillation affects time diversity links as the direct links; (3) equal‐gain and maximal‐ratio combining can add up to 3 dB to the selection diversity gain when the time diversity gain is very small; and (4) equal‐gain and maximal‐ratio combining reduce the fraction of time of rain attenuation in an average year to a value less than the probability of exceeding 3 dB in the link without diversity.     

Multiple scattering effects on wave propagation due to rain

At frequencies below 10 GHz, the scattering crosssection of raindrops is small compared with the absorption cross-section and the multiple scattering effect is negligibly small. At higher frequencies, however, the scattering cross-section becomes comparable to the absorption cross-section, and some multiple scattering effects may be observed. This paper presents a study of the multiple scattering effects, and the resulting incoherent intensity for a plane wave incident upon a plane-parallel rain region. General formulations of the equation of transfer using Stokes’parameters are given, and the extinction matrix is introduced which take into account the depolarization effects and the nonspherical shape of raindroplets. The calculations are made for the spherical droplet case. It is assumed that a circularly-polarized wave is normally incident upon a plane-parallel rain medium. The scattering characteristics are calculated using the Mie solution and the Laws-Parsons distributions. The calculation of the incoherent intensities are made using the matrix eigenvalue technique. The exact solutions are compared with the first-order scattering solution to estimate the range of validity of the first-order theory. The ratio of the incoherent to the coherent received powers are calculated at 30 GHz, for rain rates of 12.5, 50, 100, and 150 mm/h, rain thicknesses of 3 km and 10 km, and fields-of-view of 1, 5, and 15 deg.     

Measurement of rain-induced zenith-path attenuation using 19.9 GHz radiometer at Amritsar (India)

The paper presents the results of 19.9 GHz radiometric propagation studies conducted over a period of one year at Amritsar, for determining rain-induced zenith path attenuation. The zenith path attenuation has been determined by the measurements of sky noise temperature received by the radiometer. The results obtained from the experiment are presented in the form of annual cumulative distributions of rain rate, sky noise temperature, and zenith path attenuation together with worst-month statistics. The rainfall rate cumulative distribution as predicted by ITU-R for our geographical location is lower than the actually measured rainfall rate cumulative distribution. The cumulative distribution of zenith path attenuation predicted by using ITU-R model overestimates the measured cumulative distribution of zenith path attenuation.