Theoretical random process for prediction of rain attenuation statistics in site diversity satellite links above 10 GHz

Site diversity systems are foreseen for earth-to-satellite links in localities with high rain-induced attenuation operating at frequencies above 10 GHz. An analytical model for the rain-rate statistical process is developed using radar-derived information on the rain structure collected at Spino d'Adda in the framework of the Sirio experiment. The procedure for estimating rain attenuation in both single and site diversity systems is outlined in a general formulation which makes it applicable to different situations. The model gives results very similar to experimental ones.