The Effect of Rain upon the Propagation of Waves in the 1- and 3-Centimeter Regions

This paper presents some experimental results which show the effect of rain upon the transmission of electromagnetic waves in the region between 1 and 4 centimeters. At a wavelength of 1.09 centimeters, the waves are appreciably attenuated, even by a moderate rain. Attenuations in excess of 25 decibels per mile have been observed in rain of cloudburst proportions. The attenuation of waves somewhat longer than 3 centimeters is slight for moderate and light rainfall. During a cloudburst, however, the attenuation may approach a value of 5 decibels per mile.