Microwave propagation through the melting layer at grazing angles of incidence

A propagation model of the snow-melting layer has been proposed and analyzed. The model is based on two key postulates, namely, that the melting layer has an effective (complex) permittivity which is higher than that of rain or dry snow and that the layer could be inclined by small angles (1°-2°) under certain climatic conditions. The model is successfully used to explain certain anomalous phenomena recently observed on a slant microwave path in the 4-8 GHz range. A further and particularly useful application of the model would be for the analysis of low elevation angle paths to satellites, such as might occur in wet northerly latitudes, e.g. coastal Alaska, eastern Labrador, or coastal Norway