Seasonal Variation of Total Attenuation between Airborne Platform and Earth Station in South-West Region, Nigeria

Abstract

The seasonal variation of total attenuation in the southwest region of Nigeria has been computed using eight (8) years dataset at Ku- and Ka-band of the transmitted power of the radar, transmitted antenna gain and the received antenna gain of the satellite retrieved from the archived of the GPM. The results obtained fluctuates between the seasons at Ku- and Ka-band. From the results obtained at Ku-and Ka-band, the results from analysis showed that the peak total attenuation was recorded between the early (MAM) and late wet (JJA) season when the intensity of rainfall is maximum in the South-West region. As a result, the effect on the airborne-earth station link will be severe which may further lead to signal outage. However, the state where the highest total attenuation was consistent is Lagos state. These seasons and Lagos state must be taking into consideration by engineers and radiowave propagation group when planning and sitting radiowave propagation in the study area.