Short term distribution of amplitude scintillation on a satellite link

The results of an extensive study of the distribution of scintillation amplitudes over short term periods observed during a one year measurement using the Olympus 20 GHz beacon signal are presented. The authors show that scintillation amplitude fluctuation follows a Gaussian distribution during short term intervals of weak-to-moderate fluctuations but departs significantly from this model during strong scintillations or long time periods for which meteorological conditions are not constant. >