Preliminary processing and evaluation of radar measurements in satellite-path propagation research

Abstract

Rain and other precipitation cause attenuation and depolarization of high frequency satellite signals. Some characteristics of rain can be measured by dual-polarized radar. These characteristics can then be used to predict the effects of the rain on satellite-path propagation.

This thesis describes briefly the theory of radar and satellite link measurements. Methods for calibrating the equipment and deriving actual experimental values from measured power are presented in detail. A set of computer programs to approximately predict radar and link values from measured rain rate are developed. Predicted and measured values may then be compared by a researcher to evaluate system operation and assess the importance of the event data. A discussion of the use of sampled data and these comparisons concludes the report.