Attenuation Model Comparison And Validation

The Advanced Communications Technology Satellite (ACTS) propagation experiment has yielded five years measurements of rain rates and attenuation at 20.185 GHz and 27.505 GHz in seven diverse climate regions throughout North America. Figure 1 shows the former locations of ACTS propagation terminals. In the pursuit of rain attenuation models, rain has generally been classified as stratiform, convective, or cyclonic. Location has everything to do with how much of each of these types of rain a communications link will experience. In addition, changes in drop size distribution, drop shape, and canting angle are to be expected. Perturbations in average rain characteristics are common with El Nino. This paper discusses the ACTS propagation measurements in contrast to the Revised Two Component model and the DAH model.