Propagation Effects at Millimeter Wavelengths

The lower atmosphere can affect millimeter wave communication system performance by producing large variations in singel level. Several different propagation phenomena are responsible: absorption by oxygen and water vapor, scattering by turbulent fluctuations in the index of refraction, and attenuation by clouds, fog, or rain. Models are available for the calculation of propagation effects on a path when the meteorological conditions are known. This paper reviews the available propagation models for the prediction of link reliability.