Rain attenuation measurements over New Delhi with a microwave radiometer at 11 GHz

Rain attenuation measurements over New Delhi carried out with a microwave radiometer installed at the National Physical Laboratory (NPL), New Delhi and operating on 11 GHz for a period of more than three years are presented. For 0.01 percent of time for the period June 1977-April 1978, the attenuation exceeded for the monsoon period is 14.0 dB whereas for the whole year, it exceeds 10.4 dB. During the winter for the same percentage of time, the attenuation exceeded 1.5 dB, whereas for March-April it exceeds 0.5 dB. For the period May 1978-June 1980, it is observed that for 0.01 percent of time the attenuation for the whole year exceeds 9.0 dB. During the winter for the same percentage of time, the attenuation exceeds 1.4 dB whereas for March-April it exceeds 0.4 dB. A comparison of attenuation over New Delhi and those reported elsewhere are discussed. Yearly and worst month time ratio over New Delhi are given also as the values reported for the European region. Comparison of the attenuation distribution and the rate of surface rainfall measured with a rapid-response rain gauge are also given. The comparison shows that for the monsoon period and for 0.01 percent of time, the attenuation value exceeded for 14 dB corresponds to the surface rainfall rate of 140 mm/h. For the monsoon of 1978, 1979, comparison shows that for 0.1 percent of time, the attenuation value exceeded for 9.0 dB corresponds to the surface rainfall rate of 90 mm/h. Variation of attenuation and effective path length for various rainfall rates and elevation angles are also given.