Atmospheric effects
Abstract
The Earth's atmosphere consists mostly of the dry components oxygen (about 21% by volume), nitrogen (about 78% by volume) argon (about 1% by volume), and wet components (water vapor, clouds and rain). Water vapor at 100% relative humidity is approximately 1.7% by volume assuming the U.S. Standard Atmosphere, 15 C, at sea level. A communications link through the atmosphere suffers attenuation from both the dry and wet components. This results in a decreased signal to noise ratio (SNR) of the communications link due to both the signal attenuation and the increased noise temperature resulting from thermal emission.
- Publication:
-
The Deep Space Network: A Radio Commun. Instr. for Deep Space Exploration
- Pub Date:
- July 1983
- Bibcode:
- 1983dsnr.nasaR....S
- Keywords:
-
- Atmospheric Effects;
- Deep Space Network;
- Radio Attenuation;
- Transmission Efficiency;
- Mathematical Models;
- Moisture Content;
- Noise Temperature;
- Radiative Transfer;
- Signal To Noise Ratios;
- Communications and Radar