Dependence of Depolarization on Incident Polarization for 19-GHz Satellite Signals

Rain and ice crystals depolarize radio waves along earth-satellite propagation paths. The magnitude of this depolarization is a function of incident polarization angle and is minimized when polarization and depolarizer symmetry axes coincide. A technique is presented for a direct determination of the medium's attenuation and depolarization for any incident polarization, based on measurements taken at two orthogonal polarizations. Some sample results from this technique are presented, using data collected at Crawford Hill, New Jersey using the 19-GHz COMSTAR satellite beacon.