Theoretical random process for prediction of rain attenuation statistics in site diversity satellite links above 10 GHz

Site diversity systems are foreseen for earth-to-satellite links in localities with high rain-induced attenuation operating at frequencies above 10 GHz. An analytical model for the rain-rate statistical process is developed using radar-derived information on the rain structure collected at Spino d´Adda in the framework of the Sirio experiment. The procedure for estimating rain attenuation in both single and site diversity systems is outlined in a general formulation which makes it applicable to different situations. The model gives results very similar to experimental ones.