An updated model for millimeter wave propagation in moist air

Hans J. Liebe

Abstract: A practical atmospheric Millimeter-Wave Propagation Model (MPM) is formulated that predicts attenuation. delay, and noise properties of moist air for frequencies up to 1000 GHz. Input variables are height distributions (0-30 km) of pressure, temperature, humidity, and suspended droplet concentration along an anticipated radio path. Spectroscopic data consist of more than 450 parameters describing local O2 and H2O absorption lines complemented by continuum spectra for dry air, water vapor, and hydrosols. For a model (MPM*) limited to frequencies below 300 GHz, the number of spectroscopic parameters can be reduced to less than 200. Recent laboratory measurements by us at 138 GHz of absolute attenuation rates for simulated air with water vapor pressures up to saturation allow the formulation of an improved, though empirical water vapor continuum. Model predictions are compared with selected (2.5-430 GHz) data from both laboratory and field experiments. In general, good agreement is obtained.

Keywords: radio propagation; atmospheric propagation; millimeter-wave propagation model; MPM

(liebe_radio_science_1985.pdf)

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