Open AccessPerformance of site diversity fade mitigation over Earth‐to‐space propagation link using rain cell measurements in a tropical Nigeria
Author(s) -
Ojo Joseph S.,
Ajewole Moses O.,
Obagunle Romoke G.
Publication year - 2017
Publication title -
iet microwaves, antennas and propagation
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 0.555
H-Index - 69
eISSN - 1751-8733
pISSN - 1751-8725
DOI - 10.1049/iet-map.2017.0432
Subject(s) - attenuation , time diversity , environmental science , diversity gain , fade , storm , wet season , rain gauge , meteorology , rain rate , remote sensing , fading , geography , telecommunications , computer science , cartography , physics , operating system , precipitation , decoding methods , optics
The concept of site diversity is one of the fade mitigation techniques for radio communication system to overcome severe attenuation during an intense rainy condition. In this study, the performance of experimental findings during the three‐year rainy periods (2011–2013) at a tropical location, Akure (7.17°N, 5.18°E), Nigeria, using measurements from tipping bucket rain gauge network is presented to estimate and model site diversity fades mitigation over Earth–space links in the region. Time‐specified rain attenuation is generated from the micro‐rain cells over the site using Synthetic Storm Techniques by converting rain rate at the specified time and site into rain‐induced attenuation time‐series to obtain the diversity gain necessary to counter the severe rain events at Ku/Ka‐bands frequency. Based on the micro‐cell site diversity result, a modified site diversity gain prediction model has been proposed for different rainy periods: namely: onset, long‐rainy and cessation of rainy months. Results are compared with the existing site diversity models. The modified model which incorporated seasonal influences show improved estimation capability better than the International Telecommunication Union‐Recommendations (ITU‐R) diversity gain model for this location. The overall result will enhance the performance of radio signal transmission along Earth–space paths under intense rainy event in this tropical environment.