Precipitation Variability in the U. S. A. For Microwave Terrestrial System Design,
Abstract
A FORTRAN computer program, entitled PRED77, has been prepared to predict SHF microwave link degradation due to rain-caused attenuation in the United States of America. This program, which predicts 5, 50, and 95 percent confidence levels of rain-caused attenuation, is similar to one developed earlier for Europe. Major changes are in the prediction of rain rate climatology. A telecommunications-oriented rainfall climatological index is developed for the U.S.A., and 19 zones of similar rainfall characteristics are subsequently developed, using a 359-station data base. Contour maps of important input parameters that can be used to assess rain rate and its variance at a location via numerical methods in PRED77 are presented. These numerical methods are also discussed, as well as the limitations of these methods for large variances of the input parameters. As in earlier work for Europe, an interpolation scheme for obtaining otherwise unknown data at a location from the 359-station data base is included in PRED77.
Document Details
- Document Type
- Technical Report
- Publication Date
- Nov 01, 1977
- Accession Number
- ADA049041
Entities
People
- E. J. Dutton