Millimeter-wave multipath measurements on snow cover

Multipath data were obtained at frequencies of 35.1, 98.1, and 140.1 GHz over a pathlength of 179.5 m by measuring height-gain patterns between 0.2 and 4.0 m with a vertically moving receiving antenna. Grazing angles from this geometry range between 0.5 and 2°. Measured interference patterns between direct and snow-reflected rays were generally coherent in appearance and on occasion exhibited cancellation depths greater than 20 dB. A computer program models the reflection as a coherent process, with the underlying snow surface represented by a series of linear sloping segments derived from actual terrain heights. The reflection coefficient near a 2° grazing angle ranged from 0.53 to 0.20 over matter grass, from 0.66 to 0.34 over freshly fallen snow, and from 0.85 to 0.71 over old snow. The higher numbers correspond to 35.1 GHz, the lower numbers correspond to 140.1 GHz