Specific Rain Attenuation Dependence on Rain Storm Magnitudes and Measured Drop Sizes

Abstract

The size of the falling rain drop dictates the extent in which an electromagnetic wave is scattered and absorbed. In this study, an investigation is carried out with the goal of establishing the effects and contributions of heavy rain storms on the maximum drop sizes present in the measured rainfall rate, hence the extent of an electromagnetic wave attenuation. This investigation is carried out in Durban, South Africa (29°52'S, 30°58'E). Results of the study show that at the same rainfall rate, a wireless link will be exposed to different outage levels dependent on different storm magnitudes.