Analysis of fade Dynamics due to Clear-Air Propagation Mechanisms from Ka Band Beacon Satellite Measurements

Although hydrometeors attenuation is the most influential factor related to the total propagation losses on an Earth-space link at frequencies above 10 GHz, increasing rapidly at higher frequencies, several additional effects should not be ignored in the design of satellite communication systems. This paper analyzes the variability of fades time series in clear-air conditions both over the short-and the long-term. The study is based on experimental measurements from a Ka band beacon receiver. Simultaneous time series of various atmospheric parameters from measurement ancillary equipment like weather radar, ceilometer, ground meteorological stations, Meteosat products or radiosondes (RAOBS) are used for the performance of the study. The performance of the scintillation time series method currently recommended by ITU-R for the synthesis of the time series of propagation channel for Earth-space paths is checked against satellite beacon measurements.