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Correlation of S-Band Weather Radar Reflectivity and ACTS Propagation Data in FloridaPrevious work has shown that Ka-band attenuation due to rainfall and corresponding S-band reflectivity are highly correlated. This paper reports on work whose goal is to determine the feasibility of estimation and, by extension, prediction of one parameter from the other using the Florida ACTS propagation terminal (APT) and the nearby WSR-88D S-band Doppler weather radar facility operated by the National Weather Service. This work is distinguished from previous efforts in this area by (1) the use of a single-polarized radar, preventing estimation of the drop size distribution (e.g., with dual polarization) and (2) the fact that the radar and APT sites are not co-located. Our approach consists of locating the radar volume elements along the satellite slant path and then, from measured reflectivity, estimating the specific attenuation for each associated path segment. The sum of these contributions yields an estimation of the millimeter-wave attenuation on the space-ground link. Seven days of data from both systems are analyzed using this procedure. The results indicate that definite correlation of S-band reflectivity and Ka-band attenuation exists even under the restriciton of this experiment. Based on these results, it appears possible to estimate Ka-band attenuation using widely available operational weather radar data. Conversely, it may be possible to augment current radar reflectivity data and coverage with low-cost attenuation or sky temperature data to improve the estimation of rain rates.
Document ID
19970031075
Acquisition Source
Legacy CDMS
Document Type
Conference Paper
Authors
Wolfe, Eric E.
(University of South Florida Tampa, FL United States)
Flikkema, Paul G.
(University of South Florida Tampa, FL United States)
Henning, Rudolf E.
(University of South Florida Tampa, FL United States)
Date Acquired
August 17, 2013
Publication Date
August 1, 1997
Publication Information
Publication: Proceedings of the Twenty-First NASA Propagation Experiments Meeting (NAPEX XXI) and the Advanced Communications Technology Satellite (ACTS) Propagation Studies Miniworkshop
Subject Category
Communications And Radar
Accession Number
97N28308
Funding Number(s)
CONTRACT_GRANT: NAS3-26412
CONTRACT_GRANT: UCAR-S96-75635
Distribution Limits
Public
Copyright
Work of the US Gov. Public Use Permitted.
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