Fade distribution results for an over-the-water line-of-sight propagation link operating at C-band for a one year period

Over-the-water line-of-sight communication systems whose geometries pertain to tower-to-tower, ship-to-ship, and ship-to-shore configurations may experience signal degradation caused by ducting and subrefractive conditions. A fundamental question which must be broached in advance of the design of any such link is, what are the expected percentage times per month or year the fading is expected to exceed predesignated levels? Designers of communications systems may use such information for determining realistic fade-margin requirements and associated link system parameters. The authors provide the engineering community with such long term statistical results. In addition, physical insight is also provided into a possible mechanism causing sustained deep fades which have skewed the yearly and monthly fade distributions presented