An atmospheric millimeter wave propagation model
Abstract
The neutral atmosphere is characterized for the frequency range from 1 to 300 GHz as a nonturbulent propagation medium. Attenuation and propagation delay effects are predicted from meteorological data sets: pressure, temperature, humidity, suspended particle concentration, and rain rate. The physical data base of the propagation model consists of four terms: (1) resonance information for 30 water vapor and 48 oxygen absorption lines in the form of intensity coefficients and center frequency for each line; (2) a composite (oxygen, water vapor, and nitrogen) continuum spectrum; (3) a hydrosol attenuation term for haze, fog, and cloud conditions; and (4) a rain attenuation model. Oxygen lines extend into the mesosphere, where they behave in a complicated manner due to the Zeeman effect. The geomagnetic field strength H is required as an additional input parameter. Each O2 line splits proportionally with H into numerous sub-lines, which are juxtaposed to form a Zeeman pattern spread over a megahertz scale. Patterns for three main polarization cases are calculated. Detailed examples for model atmosphere provide basic millimeter wave propagation information over the height range 0 to 100 km of the neutral atmosphere.
- Publication:
-
Final Report
- Pub Date:
- December 1983
- Bibcode:
- 1983ntia.rept.....L
- Keywords:
-
- Atmospheric Attenuation;
- Mathematical Models;
- Millimeter Waves;
- Neutral Atmospheres;
- Radio Transmission;
- Wave Propagation;
- Atmospheric Composition;
- Atmospheric Models;
- Atmospheric Moisture;
- Geomagnetism;
- Zeeman Effect;
- Geophysics