Statistical and event based analysis of 20 GHz attenuation on the Earth-Olympus satellite path

Attenuation statistics derived from beacon, radiometer and rain rate measurements of the first half of the year 1992 are presented. The attenuation increased significantly from winter to summer. Radiometer and beacon attenuation correspond well, with the exception of high attenuations, where the radiometer was in saturation. Attenuation predictions from the rain rate show also sufficient agreement, in particular for medium attenuations. Joint parameter statistics show a high correlation of radiometer and beacon values. The correlation of the point rain rate and the slant path attenuation is obviously less due to time shifts and path inhomogeneities. Radar predictions of attenuation on Earth-satellite paths are generally in sufficient agreement with the actually measured attenuation, if the different kinds of particles are carefully detected and appropriate models are applied. An example has been shown, in order to demonstrate the effectiveness of a hail indicator