The Physical Basis of Atmospheric Depolarization in Slant Paths in the V Band: Theory, Italsat Experiment and Models

After a review of the physical/mathematical definitions of anisotropy and canting angle, parameters currently used for describing the depolarization of electromagnetic waves due to hydrometeors, we present some specific algorithms to retrieve these parameters from measurements of the atmospheric polarization transfer matrix, based on data collected during the Italsat propagation experiment at 50 GHz in a slant path with elevation angle 37.7°. The data analysis, conducted after applying particular “ad hoc” procedures and severe editing, allowed to separate in many cases the ice- from the rain-effects, both in single events and statistically. We also present mathematical models derived from the observed behavior of the descriptive parameters, hopefully applicable also in different conditions.