Office of Telecommunications OT Report 76-105

Refractivity and Rainfall Data for Radio Systems Engineering

September 1976

C.A. Samson

Abstract: Information on refractivity gradients and rainfall rates is provided for application to the planning and engineering of microwave line-of-sight radio systems. The 100-m refractivity gradients calculated from radiosonde observations at 15 U.S. and 49 foreign stations are presented in the form of graphs of the cumulative probability distribution. As an indication of the diurnal variability of the gradients, separate distributions are shown for each of two daily observations at 29 stations, and for four daily observations at 4 stations. Point rainfall rate distributions, based on recording rain gage statistics, are given for 29 stations in various climatic areas of the world, including 8 locations in the U.S.

Keywords: Microwave attenuation, rainfall rates, refractivity gradients

• Title Page; Statement of Mission; Table of Contents

• Chapter 1: Introduction

• Chapter 2: Discussion of Meteorological Effects; Chapter 3: Acknowledgments

• Chapter 4: References; Climatic and Geographic Data Sources
  

• Appendix A, Cumulative Distributions of the Observed Radio Refractivity Gradient in the Ground-Based 100-m Layer
  • Appendix A: pages 14-22
  • Appendix A: pages 23-32
  • Appendix A: pages 33-42
  • Appendix A: pages 43-52
  • Appendix A. pages 53-62
  • Appendix A: pages 63-72
  • Appendix A: pages 73-82
  • Appendix A: pages 83-92
  • Appendix A: pages 93-102
  • Appendix A: pages 103-112
  • Appendix A: pages 113-122
  • Appendix A: pages 123-130
    
    
• Appendix B, Rainfall Rate Distributions
  • Appendix B: pages 131-140
  • Appendix B, pages 141-150
  • Appendix B, pages 151-160
  • Appendix B, References, and Bibliographic Data Sheet

Disclaimer: Certain commercial equipment, components, and software are identified in this report to specify adequately the technical aspects of the reported results. In no case does such identification imply recommendation or endorsement by the National Telecommunications and Information Administration, nor does it imply that the equipment or software identified is necessarily the best available for the particular application or uses.