Estimation of Rain Attenuation From Experimental Drop Size Distributions

Detailed measurements of the rain phenomena can be obtained from modern equipment that provides experimental drop size distributions (DSDs), which can be used to analyze the effects of past rain events or to predict their influence on colocated radio links. In this letter, the use of experimental DSDs to predict rain effects on millimeter-wave propagation is discussed from a practical point of view, taking advantage of the availability of measurements from various instruments. The derived results show that predictions can be calculated with reasonable accuracy, provided that some practical considerations are taken into account.