Earth-Space Path Cloud Attenuation Distribution Study

The study investigates the impact of cloud attenuation at C, Ku, Ka, and V- bands in West Africa. Cloud attenuation statistics deducted from extracted data obtained from ITU-R study group data bank for the seventeen countries in the region, were used to determine the average satellite link margin for the region. Analysis of their cloud attenuation contour maps shows the average cloud attenuation for uplink and downlink: at the c-band are 0.17 dB and 0.095 dB; at Ku-band are 0.875 dB and 0.665 dB; at Ka-band 3.75 dB and 1.775 dB; and at V-band are 9.25 dB and 6.6 dB respectively in the tropical wet/dry climatic part of the region, while those for the tropical wet and tropical semi-arid climatic parts of the region are relatively higher and substantially lower respectively. Hence a margin of 1.8 dB and 3.8 dB; 6.3 dB and 9 dB for cloud attenuation in the uplink and downlink at Ka and V-band respectively are recommended.