Considerations on cloud attenuation at 100 and 300 GHz for propagation measurements within the TeraSense project

Propagation conditions at frequencies of between 100 GHz and 30 THz, also known as the THz range, are severely affected by the influence of the composition and phenomena of the troposphere. This paper is focused on important aspects of cloud attenuation under non-rainy conditions at 100 GHz and 300 GHz. Estimations of cloud and total attenuation are computed using 3-year meteorological data from Madrid, Spain, on the basis of well-accepted absorption models and considering a Rayleigh regime. Moreover, with the aim of deploying radiometric instruments at both frequencies, some expected values of sky brightness temperature and total attenuation are also presented.