Millimeter-wave antenna noise temperature due to rain clouds: Theoretical model and statistical prediction

Model-oriented methods to predict antenna noise temperature due to rainfall along slant paths are developed and illustrated for communication systems at Ka band and above. The adopted sky noise Eddington model (SNEM) relies on an accurate analytical solution of the radiative transfer equation and on stratiform and convective rainfall stratified structures, synthetically generated from cloud-resolving model statistics. The approach to predict antenna noise temperature is based on the multiple regression analysis, trained by SNEM-derived cloud radiative datasets. In order to test the proposed prediction technique, measurements of the ITALSAT satellite groundstation at Pomezia (Rome, Italy) are taken into consideration for 2 case studies. Combined data from the ITALSAT three-beacon receiver at 18.7, 39.6 and 49.5 GHz and from a three-channel microwave radiometer at 13.0, 23.8 and 31.6 GHz are processed and discussed.