Analysis and prediction of cross-polarization on earth-space links

A two-tier Gaussian model for raindrops, which assumes Gaussian distributions both for instantaneous canting angle and time-varying mean canting angle, together with gross features of ice particles, provide a theoretical framework to organize the experimental data and to yield functional dependence of cross-polarization on frequency, polarization and elevation angle. Agreement has been obtained between measured depolarization data and theoretical results which are essentially independent of details of ice clouds. In particular, a linear relation has been found between cross-polarization amplitude and frequency throughout the centimeter wavelengths for a given earth-space path.