On the Opportunistic use of Commercial K_u and K_a Band Satcom Networks for Rain Rate Estimation: Potentials and Critical Issues

Abstract

In this paper we study the opportunistic use of microwave satellite signals in the Ku and Ka bands to detect the presence of rain events and to estimate their intensity. This approach, based on measuring the excess signal attenuation due to rain, has the advantage that the potential number of sensors over the territory could be increased dramatically also allowing prospectively the realization of accurate regional rain maps. Moreover, employing the same satellite network whose signals are opportunistically used, the measurements can be easily fed back and universally distributed, contributing to the effective implementation of a nowcasting platform, which could help the timely detection of catastrophic rain events. Results are very promising and show that the already good estimates obtained by using signals in the Ku band can be further improved by using signals in the Ka band. Unfortunately, as of today, the frequency with which the receivers on the Ka band provide signal measurements is too low for fast changing rain events and how to address this problem is the object of future research.

Optimalisasi Saluran Komunikasi Berbasis Gelombang Mikro Sebagai Alternatif Sistem Pemantauan Curah Hujan

“…Implementasi kombinasi Kalman Filter dan model ITU-R dalam estimasi curah hujan kembali dilakukan oleh Giannetti dkk untuk area lokal kota Florence, Itali [37]. Data pengukuran SNR satelit selama 1 minggu didapat dari 9 penerima Ku-band dengan resolusi temporal 1 menit dan 17 Ka-band dengan resolusi temporal 5 menit.…”