Statistical characterization of slant-path atmospheric channels exploiting microwave Sun-tracking radiometer

The objective of this work is to propose a model for the computation of the conditional probability distribution of the atmospheric attenuation and brightness temperature given the elevation angle variations during a satellite-to-Earth link. We have developed the model exploiting measurements from a Sun-tracking microwave radiometer sited in Rome, NY (USA), available at 23.8, 31.4, 72.5 and 82.5 GHz. The model can be used to retrieve the total probability density function (PDF) of the considered radiopropagation parameter (attenuation or brightness temperature) taking into account for the variations of the elevation angle during the link. The proposed model is function of the statistical parameters (mean and standard deviation) of attenuation and brightness temperature in the considered geographical area. Preliminary results, presented in this paper, are promising with root mean square errors, in terms of total PDF, always smaller than 0.04 and 0.004 for attenuation and brightness temperature, respectively.