Rain rate statistics for rain attenuation for western and central African subregions

Abstract

Rain-induced attenuation serves as a substantial factor influencing link power sizing in both terrestrial and satellite-based applications. The absence of in-situ rain rate measurements for localized link designs has led to generalized assumptions about rain-induced attenuation, contributing to increased instances of signal impairments during rainfall events. This study addresses this challenge by quantifying rain rate statistics over country capitals in Western and Central Africa. The Chebil and Moupfouma models were employed to estimate essential rain rate statistics, including the point rainfall rate R0.01, utilizing a 32-year data set of CRU rainfall accumulations. The results provide accurate rain-based statistics crucial for predicting, planning, and designing satellite and terrestrial links, especially for various microwave (MW) and millimeter-wave (mmW) technologies in specific locations. These rain rate insights are invaluable for engineers and designers working on communication systems, offering a comprehensive resource to enhance the accuracy of link budgeting and develop effective strategies for mitigating the impact of rainfall on signal quality. This research contributes to the optimization of communication systems, ensuring robust performance across diverse atmospheric conditions.