Measured and simulated fluctuations of received power on 11 GHz terrestrial path using vertical profiles of atmospheric refractivity

The measurement of received power fluctuations on the terrestrial 11 GHz, 50 km path together with the measurement of the vertical profiles of atmospheric refractivity at the receiver site are presented. The parabolic equation method is utilized to test the validity of different assumptions about the horizontal distribution of refractivity above an irregular terrain. Measured and simulated time series of received signal are compared in terms of their cumulative distribution functions. The better agreement between simulation and measurement is achieved for horizontally independent refractivity profiles where the refractivity is assumed to be constant with the height above a sea level.