Observations of tropospheric-scatter path loss at C band frequencies and meteorological conditions in Cyprus

The received carrier level of a C band tropospheric-scatter radio link in Cyprus was monitored for 1 year. The annual median path loss was compared with that obtained by various prediction methods. None of the methods was found to be accurate. Meteorological data, which enabled the radio refractivity to be calculated, were also obtained during the course of the trial. A good correlation was found to exist between the path loss and refractivity at the Earth´s surface and also with the height of the 500mb surface. However, the path loss and upper-air values of refractivity were found to be uncorrelated. It is concluded that the standard methods used for troposcatter-path calculations are not satisfactory for predictions of loss in climates that differ appreciably from the temperate continental type.