Experimental studies on millimeterwave and infrared propagation in arid land: the effect of sand storms

Summarizes the measured sand/dust storm parameters and its effect on the radio links. Nine sand storms were experienced in the city of Riyadh during 1987, and were observed both by the meteorological sensors and by the radio links. The measurements were used to determine the prominent storm parameters which have considerable effects on wave propagation into such storms. Such parameters include particle concentration, particle size and size distribution, and refractive index of such particles, or its dielectric constant. As the moisture content of sand/dust particles increases, attenuation increases markedly. The measured attenuation, as the millimetricwaves propagate through sand storms, is compared with the calculated value of attenuation. Such calculated attenuation is found by using an attenuation model which relates attenuation to visibility, frequency and particle size and refractive index