More about rainfall rates and their prediction for radio systems engineering

Owing to the interest raised by the effect of precipitation on the design of satellite or terrestrial radiocommunication systems at high frequencies, it is important to have at our disposal a mathematical or semiempirical model which correctly accounts for rainfall rate cumulative distributions whatever the climatic region. In the paper an empirical model is suggested, based on two parameters: the rain rate value R0.01(mm/h) in the considered location, and a parameter which depends on the geographical characteristics of this location. This model allows the calculation of instantaneous rain rate cumulative distributions, depending on the use of CCIR hydrometeorological zones, or CCIR contours of rainfall intensities exceeded for 0.01% of the time: R0.01 (mm/h).