Environmental Effects on 4/6 GHz ANIK II Satellite Communication Links between Greenland and California,
Abstract
A 21-month data set from the AFCS satellite communication link between Point Reyes, CA and Pingorssuit-Mountain, Greenland exhibited seasonal 4- to 6-GHz fading. The fading sources were concentrated along the high-latitude, low-elevation-angle (1.6 deg) side of the link. Local tropospheric storms coupling attenuation and interference produced short duration (1-3 days) signal fading during spring and summer seasons. The annual breakup of pack-ice in Baffin Bay from the June-August period allows specular reflection from the water surface to produce multipath fading on the signal record. Tropospheric subrefraction, local magnetic storms, hemispheric magnetic storms, interplanetary magnetic field sector boundary changes, and a Bartel's rotation showed some correlation with enhanced (higher frequency and amplitude) fading during the summer season. The 1974-76 data set coincides with low sunspot numbers during the solar cycle 20 trough. As the solar cycle activity increases toward maximum in the early 1980's we propose a coincident increase in the frequency of occurrence of enhanced signal fading. (Author)
Document Details
- Document Type
- Technical Report
- Publication Date
- Aug 01, 1977
- Accession Number
- ADA052580
Entities
People
- Donald G. Buchanan
Organizations
- Air Force Technical Applications Center