Title :
Prediction of cloud attenuation on earth-space optical links
Author :
Capsoni, Carlo ; Luini, Lorenzo ; Nebuloni, Roberto
Author_Institution :
Dipt. di Elettron. e Inf., Politec. di Milano, Vinci, Italy
Abstract :
Optical transmission is becoming an attractive solution to the ever increasing demand for high data rates in ground-to-space communications. The link budget for such a system must take into account the propagation losses produced by the troposphere. Clouds represent one of the most limiting factors for laser beams. In this paper we outline a procedure to predict cloud attenuation on ground-to-space optical links in statistical terms using a radiosoundings database. A preliminary estimate of the expected system performance in a mid-latitude site is provided as well.
Keywords :
atmospheric optics; light absorption; light propagation; light scattering; light transmission; optical dispersion; optical links; space communication links; troposphere; cloud attenuation; earth-space optical links; ground-to-space communication; laser beams; link budget; optical transmission; propagation losses; radiosoundings database; troposphere; Attenuation; Clouds; Ice; Integrated optics; Liquids; Optical attenuators; Optical fiber communication; clouds; laser communications; optical attenuation; space communications;
Conference_Titel :
Antennas and Propagation (EUCAP), 2012 6th European Conference on
Conference_Location :
Prague
Print_ISBN :
978-1-4577-0918-0
Electronic_ISBN :
978-1-4577-0919-7
DOI :
10.1109/EuCAP.2012.6206551