Estimating the attenuation due to combined atmospheric effects on modern Earth-space paths

With the emergence of new satellite-communications systems operating in the Ka band, the role of atmospheric effects on propagation paths has gained increased significance. The impairing factors of rain have always been considered when designing links at above 10 GHz. However, water vapor, clouds, and oxygen, which were previously considered "secondary affects", are now appearing to play a statistically significant part in the overall degradation of signal strength. A method for statistically combining all attenuators to provide a composite attenuation is now presented.