Microwave link dual-wavelength measurements of path-average attenuation for the estimation of drop size distributions and rainfall

Author

Rincon, Rafael F. ; Lang, Roger H.

Author_Institution

Dept. of Electr. & Comput. Eng., George Washington Univ., DC, USA

Volume

40

Issue

4

fYear

2002

fDate

4/1/2002 12:00:00 AM

Firstpage

760

Lastpage

770

Abstract

Microwave attenuation measurements at 25 and 38 GHz made on a 2.3-km microwave link are employed to estimate drop size distributions (DSD), rainfall rate, and rainfall accumulation. A theoretical model for the propagation of microwaves in a link system sets forth the basis for the development of a dual-wavelength analytical technique to invert two parameters of a path-average gamma DSD. The DSDs obtained from the technique are evaluated in conjunction with point measurements performed with a 2-D video disdrometer. Additionally, the DSDs yield path-average rainfall rates and rainfall accumulation which are compared with path-average measurements from a network of optical and tipping bucket rain gauges located beneath the link path, and with estimates based on empirical power law relations

Keywords

atmospheric techniques; microwave links; microwave propagation; millimetre wave propagation; rain; remote sensing; tropospheric electromagnetic wave propagation; 25 GHz; 38 GHz; EHF; SHF; atmosphere; attenuation; drop size; dual wavelength method; measurement technique; microwave link; microwave method; mm wave; path average attenuation; radiowave propagation; rain; raindrop; rainfall; rainfall accumulation; rainfall rate; remote sensing; size distribution; Attenuation measurement; Microwave measurements; Microwave propagation; Microwave theory and techniques; Optical attenuators; Optical fiber networks; Performance evaluation; Power measurement; Rain; Yield estimation;

fLanguage

English

Journal_Title

Geoscience and Remote Sensing, IEEE Transactions on

Publisher

ieee

ISSN

0196-2892

Type

jour

DOI

10.1109/TGRS.2002.1006324

Filename

1006324