Search NASA⌕ Search

SEARCH · Search NASA

Results for “MICROWAVE ATTENUATION”

Search indexed NASA NTRS and DOE OSTI research on propulsion, heat transfer, battery materials and energy systems. Follow report and document links to the original sources.

Quote a phrase for an exact phrase match. Source license links do not imply unrestricted reuse.

At least 19 records
All sourcesNASA NTRSDOE OSTI
NASA NTRS1994

Use of multiple gauges and microwave attenuation of precipitation for satellite verification

In this paper both a microwave attenuation measurement along a horizontal line and multiple point gauge measurements are analyzed as possible ground-truth designs to validate satellite precipitation retrieval algorithms at the field of view spatial level (typically about 20 km). The design consists of comparing a sequence of pairs of contemporaneous measurements taken from the ground and from space. The authors examine theoretically the variance of expected differences between the two systems. The line average measurement leads to a smaller mean-square error compared to the case of a single point gauge, since some of the small-scale variability of the rain field is smoothed away by the line integration. The multiple point gauge measurements also give smaller mean-square error than that of a single point gauge. The centroid of the line and point gauge configurations are considered to be located randomly inside the field of view for different overpasses. A space-time spectral formalism is used with a noise-forced diffusive rain field to find the mean-square error. By considering instantaneous ground and satellite measurement pairs over about 50 visits when raining, we can reduce the expected error to approximately 10% of the standard deviation of climatological variability. This is considered to be a useful level of tolerance for identifying biases in the retrieval algorithms. It is found that the multiple point gauges (especially two gauges) are the economical ground-truth design compared to the microwave attenuation based on the mean-square error comparison. The major finding of this study is that a significant improvement over the point gauge is obtained by adding a single additional piece of information; adding more gauges or extending the line of attenuation is not an important improvement.

Ha, Eunho↗
NASA NTRS1977

Path- and area-integrated rainfall measurement by microwave attenuation in the 1-3 cm band

At a wavelength of about 0.9 cm, microwave attenuation is demonstrated to be linearly related to rainfall rate and independent of drop size distribution and temperature. In addition, practical methods for measuring path- and area-averaged rainfall rate are reviewed. A compromise between maximum path-averaged rainfall rate sensitivity and minimum sensing errors may be achieved by the use of one-way methods between the transmitter and the receiver, with a wavelength of 1.5 to 2.0 cm. Corrections for nonspherical drops and for multiple scattering are also discussed.

Atlas, D.↗
NASA NTRS1975

Evidence for the nonuniform distribution of microwave attenuating clouds in the atmosphere of Venus - Mariner 2

Data obtained by Mariner 2 in three microwave-radiometer scans of Venus are reanalyzed using model Venusian atmospheres based on observations by Veneras 4 through 8 as well as by Mariners 5 and 10. It is noted that a previous analysis of this microwave data revealed a CO2 percentage and surface pressures that were considerably lower than those measured in situ as well as a longitudinal temperature gradient that was much larger than that indicated by the more recent measurements. The reanalysis shows that the measured scan ratios require different average values of microwave-cloud opacity for each scan and that the anomalous temperature decrease observed in the south polar region of the terminator scan requires a very opaque microwave cloud between local zenith angles of 40 and 70 deg. It is suggested that a nonuniform microwave-attenuating cloud is located below the IR and visible cloud deck of Venus.

Jones, D. E.↗
NASA NTRS1977

Approximations to microwave attenuation in precipitation

A three-term approximation and a discrete drop-size distribution have been used to obtain an analytical expression for the microwave attenuation coefficient for precipitation. Results compared to an exact calculation using the same drop size distribution showed a relative difference of 50% or less over a broad range of rainrates (5-150 mm/hr) and wavelengths (2-5 cm). Since the use of a discrete drop-size distribution is computationally complex, the exponential size distribution formulated by Marshall and Palmer (1948) was studied. This distribution resulted in an overprediction of the attenuation coefficient of as much as 100% at a 2 cm wavelength and a 150 mm/hr rainrate, although the prediction was much closer at lower rainrates and different wavelengths.

Kalshoven, J. E., Jr.↗
NASA NTRS1951

Preliminary results of a determination of temperatures of flames by means of K-band microwave attenuation

The temperature effects on the attenuation of K-band microwaves, at a frequency of 26,500 plus or minus 30 megacycles per second, through natural-gas and propane flames containing added alkali halide salts, were investigated over a temperature range from 1900 to 2500 K. The preliminary data of this investigation indicated that the attenuation varies appreciably with the sodium-line-reversal temperatures of the flames and is independent of the particular hydrocarbon fuels that were used for temperature sources and of the particular halide components of the compounds used in the concentrations employed to produce easily measurable attenuation. A reproducibility of plus or minus 25 K was obtainable.

RESEARCH EQUIPMENT AND TECHNIQUES↗
NASA NTRS1989

Theoretical analysis and meteorological interpretation of the role of raindrop shape on microwave attenuation and propagation phase shifts - Implications for the radar measurement of rain

The effects of raindrop shape on the attenuation and propagation phase shift at vertical and horizontal linear polarizations is examined, focusing on the implications of these effects on rain measurements by radars. Analytic expressions for the imaginary and real components of the forward scattering amplitude function are dervied for a wavelength of 2.2 cm. It is shown that the summation attenuation rate and the rate of summation propagation phase shift are both insensitive to the shapes of raindrops.

Jameson, A. R.↗
NASA NTRS2022

Rainfall Field Reconstruction by Opportunistic Use of the Rain- Induced Attenuation on Microwave Satellite Signals: The July 2021 Extreme Rain Event in Germany as a Case Study

This paper presents a practical application of an opportunistic technique for the estimation of rainfall intensity and accumulated precipitation. The proposed technique is based upon signal strength measurements made by commercial-grade interactive satellite terminals. By applying some processing, the rain-induced attenuation on the microwave downlink from the satellite is first evaluated; then the rain attenuation is eventually mapped into a rainfall rate estimate via a tropospheric model. This methodology has been applied to a test area of 30 × 30 km 2 around the city of Dortmund (North Rhine-Westphalia, upper basin of Ermscher river), for the heavy rain event that devastated western Germany in July, 2021. A rainfall map on this area is obtained from the measurements collected by a set of satellite terminals deployed in the region, and successfully compared with a map obtained with a conventional weather radar.

Rainfall rate estimation↗
NASA NTRS1981

Effects of rain and fog on the Shuttle Ku-band microwave scanning beam landing system range and accuracy performance

The microwave Scanning Beam Landing System's (MSBLS) performance in fog and rain was studied. The fog and rain effects on the Shuttle Ku-band system were determined. Specifically, microwave attenuation, beam distortion, and coordinate errors resulting from operation of the MSBLS in poor weather conditions were evaluated. The main physical processes giving rise to microwave attenuation were found to be absorption and scattering by water droplets. The general theory of scattering and absorption used is discussed and a listing of applicable computer programs is provided.

Butler, D.↗
NASA NTRS1978

The rain parameter diagram - Methods and applications

A rain parameter diagram is presented which displays the relationships between all rainfall parameters defined in terms of an exponential drop size distribution. Special emphasis is given to remotely measurable quantities such as radar reflectivity, microwave attenuation, and optical extinction. Although an exponential distribution is used to construct the diagram, it is shown to have general application for arbitrary size distributions and for a wide variety of rainfall-related problems. Some of the problems are: analysis of the sources of error which result from the use of empirical rainfall relations; depiction of the physical differences between different types of rainfall and of the similarity between all empirical relations which apply to the same type of rainfall; and determination of the accuracy with which remote measurements must be made to obtain accurate rain parameters. A set of overlays is shown for four common radar wavelengths and four temperatures which display the relationships between microwave attenuation and the other rainfall parameters. These diagrams can be used to determine rainfall parameters remotely in dual-measurement techniques.

Ulbrich, C. W.↗
NASA NTRS1989

Ground truth observations for TRMM

Plans to obtain ground truth data for the validation of the Tropical Rainfall Measuring Mission (TRMM) are examined. The experimental rainfall measuring techniques considered for the program are discussed, including optical and Doppler rain gages, satellite beacon attenuation, underwater hydrophones, profilers, microwave attenuation, multiple frequency/polarization radar, and scanning and airborne Doppler radar. The TRMM validation program is considered, noting observations to compare averaged TRMM rainfall data with similar ground truth data and to compare the rainfall and height distribution data from TRMM with instantaneous ground truth data.

Thiele, Otto W.↗
NASA NTRS2004

Microwave Propagation Attenuation due to Earth's Atmosphere and Weather at SHF Band

In this study we have estimated radio wave propagation losses at super high frequency (SHF) band by applying available propagation models into several Air Force benchmark scenarios. The study shows that dominantly additional losses over the free space loss are atmospheric absorption, clouds, fog, and precipitation, as well as scintillation /multipath at low elevation angles. The free space loss equation has been modified to include all atmospheric attenuation and fading effects that cannot be neglected over the range of frequency of interest. Terrain profiles along all directions of interest within the coastal areas and inland areas for four benchmark cases have been analyzed in detail. We find that while the atmospheric gaseous absorption plays a significant role under a clear weather, heavy rainfalls can cause several tens of dB loss for a 100- km path through the rain. At very low elevation angles (< 5 deg), atmospheric scintillation/multipath fading becomes a very important factor. There are significant differences in the feature of anomalous mode (ducting) propagation between the east and the west coastal receiving stations.

atmospheric absorption↗
NASA NTRS1986

Propagation through Martian dust at 8.5 and 32 GHz

Independent studies of attenuation of X-band (8.5 GHz) and Ka-band (32 Ghz) radio signals when traversing Martian dust were carried out. These analyses turned out remarkably similar. The computational method is essentially that of T. S. Chu but uses observed optical depth at 0.67 microns rather than visibility as the measure of optical attenuation from which to derive the microwave attenuation. An awkwardness in the approach is that the size distribution of Martian dust particles is not well known, but the mean is probably around 4 microns, whereas in the terrestrial case it is nearer 10 microns. As a consequence, there will be a larger tail of particles still in the Mie regime in the Martian case as compared to the terrestrial one. The computational error will, therefore, be somewhat larger for Martian than Earth-bound dust. Fortunately, the indicated attenuations are small enough for the worst case (1.3 dB at 32 GHz) that the error is academic.

Smith, E. K.↗
NASA NTRS1980

The estimation of the propagation delay through the troposphere from microwave radiometer data

The uncertainity in propagation delay estimates is due primarily to tropospheric water, the total amount and vertical distribution of which is variable. Because water vapor both delays and attenuates microwave signals, the propagation delay, or wet path length, can be estimated from the microwave brightness temperature near the 22.235 GHz transition of water vapor. The data from a total of 240 radiosonde launches taken simultaneously were analyzed. Estimates of brightness temperature at 19 and 22 GHz and wet path length were made from these data. The wet path length in the zenith direction could be estimated from the surface water vapor density to an accuracy of 5 cm for the summer data and 2 cm for winter data. Using the brightness temperatures, the wet path could be estimated to an accuracy of 0.3 cm. Two dual frequency radiometers were refurbished in order to test these techniques. These radiometers were capable of measuring the difference in the brightness temperature at 30 deg elevation angle and at the zenith to an accuracy of about 1 K. In August 1975, 45 radiosondes were launched over an 11 day period. Brightness temperature measurements were made simultaneously at 19 and 22 GHz with the radiometers. The rms error for the estimation of wet path length from surface meteorological parameters was 3.2 cm, and from the radiometer brightness temperatures, 1.5 cm.

Moran, J. M.↗
NASA NTRS1981

Microwave noise temperature and attenuation of clouds at frequencies below 50 GHz

The microwave attenuation and noise temperature effects of clouds can result in serious degradation of telecommunications link performance, especially for low-noise systems presently used in deep-space communications. Although cloud effects are generally less than rain effects, the frequent presence of clouds will cause some amount of link degradation a large portion of the time. Cloud types, water particle densities, radiative transfer, attenuation and noise temperature calculations are reviewed and examples of basic link signal to noise ratio calculations are given. Calculations for twelve different cloud models are presented for frequencies of from 1 to 50 GHz and elevation angles of 30 degrees and 90 degrees. These case results may be used as a handbook to predict noise temperature and attenuation values for known or forecast cloud conditions.

Slobin, S. D.↗