Multipath Propagation over Snow at Millimeter Wavelengths,

Abstract

A series of multipath measurements over snow were conducted at Hanscom AFB during the winter 1978/1979. Data were obtained over a path-length of 179.5 m at frequencies of 35, 98, and 140 GHz. The gently rolling grass-covered terrain showed maximum height differences of 0.8 m. Snow covers included freshly fallen snow, old metamorphic snow, and sleet. The equipment consisted of CW transmitters at 2-m height and receivers mounted on a vertical positioner to measure the height-gain pattern of the received signal between 0.2- and 4-m height. Grazing angles for this geometry range between 0.5 and 2 degrees. Measured interference patterns between direct and terrain-reflected rays were generally coherent in appearance and exhibited cancellation depths of 20 dB and lower, depending on the type of snow cover. A computer program was developed in order to model the reflection as a specular process, with the underlying terrain represented by a series of linear sloping segments, derived from actual terrain height measurements. With appropriate transitions between the linear segments and reflection coefficients calculated from relevant snow parameters, calculated and measured height-gain patterns display quite similar qualities. (Author)

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Document Details

Document Type
Technical Report
Publication Date
Feb 01, 1980
Accession Number
ADA087747

Entities

People

  • Dallas T. Hayes
  • Uve H. W. Lammers

Organizations

  • Rome Laboratory

Tags

Communities of Interest

  • Advanced Electronics
  • Energy and Power Technologies

DTIC Thesaurus Topics

  • Accuracy
  • Automatic Gain Control
  • Computer Programming
  • Computer Programs
  • Computers
  • Dielectric Permittivity
  • Frequency
  • Geometry
  • Grazing Angles
  • Low Angles
  • Measurement
  • Millimeter Waves
  • Multipath Transmission
  • Recording Systems
  • Refractive Index
  • Snow Cover
  • Specular Reflection

Readers

  • Astronomy and Astrophysics.
  • Electromagnetic Wave Scattering and Antenna Radiation Engineering
  • Polar and Arctic Studies