3-l

PROPAGATION MODELWG OF MOIST AIR AND SUSPFJVDFD

WATER/ICE PARTICLES AT FRF.QI.J-ENC~ BELOW loo0 GHz
H. J. Liebe
G, A, Huffcxd
M+ G, Cotton
NationalTelecommunications and InformationAdministration
Institutefor Tel~mmunicatio~ Sciences
325 Ehmdway, Boulder,CO 80303
US,A

SUMMARY expressedby a complexrefractivity,

Propagationcharacteristics of theatmosphereare mod&d for N=No+Nf+fN’ ppm
the frequencyrange fmm 1 to loo0 GHz (1 ‘I%) by the (1)
modular millimeter-wave propagation model MPM, Therealpartchangestheprqagation velocity (refractio@and
Refractivity spec&aof the main nati absorbers(i.e., consists of 8 frquewy-indepenckw tem~, N,, plus the
oxygen, water-vapor, supended dropletsand ice particles)are dispersiverefractionN’(v). The imaginarypart quantifiesthe
computedfrom know meteor&@xl variabIes.The primq loss of radiation energy (absorption). Refractivity N
c4mtributionsof dry air comefrom 44 8, lines. Resulti from determinesthe specificquarMieaof power attenuationCYK and
dtmive 6CkGHzlaboratorymeasurements of the press- phasedispersionfl or delay rate 7. Assumingf-requencyY in
broadenedOz spectrumwere appliedto updatethe line data GHz, one obtains
base,The watewapor moduleresiders 34 local Hz0 lines = 0.1820YNn dWkm,
plus continuumcontributionsfrom the Hz0 spectrumabuve
s” = 1.2008~ (N, + N’) deli@%
1 THz, which art formulatedas wing responseof a pseudo- p/km.
7 = 3.3356 (N, + N’)
line canteredat 1.8 THz. Cloutifcg effectsare trWed with
the Rayleighapproximationemployingrevisedformulations Under specialcircumstancettie refractivity N can exhibit
for the permittivitiesof water and ice. tzn.i~u~mpic properties(e.g., mewsphericC+ Z&man ef’kct).
In such a casethe propagationof plane, polarisedwavesis
The influenceof the Earth’s‘magneticfield on C& absorption characterisedby a two=dimensional field vector E*(z) which
lines becomesnoticeableat &itudes between30 and 120km, is affected perpendicular to the diflectionof propqation by a
Anisotropicmediumprop&es result,which arecomputedby 2 X2 refractivity matrix M.
the Zeeman pmpagaticm model ZPM. Here the &mats of a
complex refixtivity tensor are dekxmined in the vicinity 2, ATMCXSHERIC ZUD?RACTIV~
(&lo MHz) of C& 1ine centers and their effect on the 211 Input Variables
propagationof plane,polarizedradiowavesis evaluated.
Complex refractivity N is the central quantity computedby
A sphericallystratified(0 - 130km) atmosphereprovidesthe the Millimeter-wavePropagationModel MPM.lq2 Here, the
input for the codes MPM and ZPM in order to analyse opportunity is taken to updateMPM89 2 with the latest
transmissionand emissionpropertiesof radio paths.Height spectroscopicinformation+The modelconsiders44 0, and34
profiles of air and watervapor densitiesand of the geocoded Hz0 local lines @enteredbelow loo0 GHz), nonresonant
magneticfield are specified.ZPM predictsp&uizatio~~-and spectrafor dry air, and an empiric-alwater vapor continuum
directiondependent propzgation through the mesosphere. which reconciles experimental discrepancies. Model
Emissionspectraof the 9+ line (61150& 3 MHz) for paths formulations for dry air and water vapor spectra follow
with tangential heights ranging from 30 to 125 km m closelythe theoryof abxxption by atmosphericgasesthat is
consistentwith datamez~uredby the shuttle-based miIlimeter- reviewed in detail by Rosenkra& The refractivity of
wavelimb sounderMAS. supnded water and ice particles is computed with the
Rayleighabsorptionapproximation.’Atmosphericconditions
1. INTRODUCTION in MPM are character&d by the input vatiables:
The natural atmosphericabsorbersof oxygen,water vapor, ical Raqe
and suspendedwaterdropletsor ice-crystals,determinethe - barometricpressure p 1WT - 1013 mb
propagationpropertiesof the nonprecipitatingatmosphere. - ambienttemperature f -100 - 50 *c
The spectraIcharacteristicsof theseabsorbersarepredictedup - relativehumidity u 0 - loo %
to loo0 GHz basedon the physical conditionsat altitudes - water dropletdensity w 0 - 5 g/m3
from sealevel to 130km. Both p&e andamplituderesponse - ice @cle density 0 - 1 g/n?
of a planeradio wavepropagatingthe distancez at frequency - magneticfield strength z 20 - 65 FT+
Y are describedby a field strength,
For modelingpurposes,a reciprocaltemperaturevariableis
2 = exp[ i k z( 1 + NxlOd )] E(O),
IEO introduced, 0 = 3MV(t + 273.15), and the barometric
where E(O)is the initial value, k = 2au/c is the free space pressurep (1 mb = 100Pa)is separatedinto partialpressure3
wave number, and c is the speedof light in vacuum.The for dry air @a) and water vapor (e); i.e. I
spectralcharacteristicsof the atmosphericmediumare p = pd + e mb.
3-2

23 Dry-Air Modde
R&activity of dry air is cxpre~~Aby

wherethe nondispersiveterm is

is multipliedby the complex shape fimtim,

The Van Vleck-Weis&opf function F(v) ~8s modified by

Rmmkranz 3 to incltie line owdap cffects~Width (r) and

A ruugh chnate of line khavior in the mesosphere

c&nbe
ObtaifKdby replacingTk with
“yh = (yk2 + 4525EIy r
whereB is the magneticfield Wength(22 - 65 ~7”)depending
cmthe geographiclocationandaltitude(se Sat. 2.3),

of 60-GHzabSorptionby
? Abestfittothesdata
cHabli8hednew coefficients4 and k for the microwave
linm. Still, the valuesliistedfor a, and %,6 in Table 1 arc
different from Ref+ 5. Indirect evidence from the data
~ugg&.~that all microwavewidthsx arc multipliedby 1,05,
Dry C

10

52 58 60 64 68 The Dopplerwidth is yD = 1.096xl@ yM6” .

Frequency f, GHz
Figwe 1.
 3-3

2.4 Water-Vapor Module An analytical match of the continuum was consideredby

The MPM-inputfor watervaporis relativehumidityU, which meansof apx&line centwed out-of-band above 1 THz.
is convertedto vaporpressuree = (uWIO)e, by way of the Expandingthe line shape,E-q.(3), into a power seriesand
saturationpressurees over water (or ice) lo at temperaturet. assumingthat 6 = 0, ‘yC4 Y, , md v + 0, l&s to:
A usefulapproximationfor saturationover wateris given by
NC” - 2 S, r,[(hJ + 3 (dv$ ] v=-~ and
es = 2.408x1Ol18 ’ exp (-22.644B) mb. 0
NC’ - 2 S, [(dv$ + (h$ ] v,-’
Absolutehumidity (water-vapordensity)follows from
Different fits to Eq (7) in three sefsof
4 = 0.7223 e 8 g/m? for this pseudo-line:
Refractivityaf atmosphericwatervaporis written in the form
4 h h h b4 b5 b6 Data Ref.
wherethe nondispersiveterm is GHz kHz/mb MHz/mb
2200 4210 0.952 17.3 30.5 2 5 15, 18, 19
NV = (4.163 B + 0.239) e 0 . 1780 2230 0.952 17.6 30.5 2 5 15, HI, Table 2
1470 1257 0.952 17.3 30.5 2 5 15, 18,20
Line refractivity resultsfrom 34 kal Hz0 resotlances
(r = line index). The individualline strengthis
St = (I+ Ivf ) e 0 3a5exp D2 (1 - @I f?Pm; For the ‘continuum* line NCcenkredat vG = 1780GHz and
the chosenunits one can assertthat
the shapefunctionis thatof Eq* (3). The width of a pressure-
broadened Hz0 line is formulatedby I1 14(0 = 1) = 2x l@ b1b bdyc3 = 0.434 GHzl mbv2,
which is close to the value found by fitting tie 213.5~GHz
Yt = b3x llF3 (b4e eb6 + pd eb5) GHz. data alone(seeabove),T’hesecond-orderv-termsof Eq. (7)
Line overlapis neglected(ac = 0) andDoppler-bmdeningis allow oneto 7ailor” the fit c1oseto the upperfrequencylimit
approximatedfor pressure below0.7 mb (h 2 60 km) by of MPM (1 THz) by changingpc c An exact fit to both
measuredabsorptiondatal9 andanalyticalrefmctim resulta20
$ = 0.535‘yt + (0.217?t2 + yD2)‘A 9 around900 GHz wasnot possibte.Hence,the continuumline
wherethe Dopplerwidth is 7D = 1.46x1@ q t” c parametersv, and bI in Table2 are a compromisewhich is
of no consequence ~JOdatafits belowabout 800 GHz, B&h the
largewidthsfor far-wing self-@,xb$ andair-brmdeniq w
The contributionsof IocaIlinesin Eq. (5) are not sufficientto and the &rqg negativetemperature dependence (be ) have
match measureddata. In particdar, absorptiondata in the been postulated by theoqG’* 21
window rangesbetweenspectrallines reflect a magnitudeup
to five times larger than predictedvalues.The excessis taken Table2 lists the presentline frequenciesYeand spectrosxpic
into account by a continuumspectrumN, , which originates coefficienti b1 to b6 (q and b, UT from Ref. 12)+The b1
in the strong lines entered in the rotationalIS&I spectrum values of the 22-GHz line* and 183~GHzl7 lines were
almve 1 THZ.14,2o Absoluteabsorptiondatafrom controlled increasedby 5 percentto fit measureddata.
experimentsI5 - I9 provide the basis for formulating a
physicalmodelof NC. Purewatervapor and foreign-gas(air The MPM for muist air is madeup by N = ND + NV *
or N, ) mixtureswere studied at 18 - 40 GHz l5 138 GHz 16, Predictionsof Nn are CornPared with publisheddatain Figs.
186- 194GHz ” , 213.5 GHz I* , and 160=9&l GHz I’, 2 t.u 4. The critical temperature dqmdencc of N/ is
xvqmxented in Fig. 2. The frequencydependence of threedata
At 137.8 GHz, pressureand temperaturedependences of seta15m17*19is shownin Figs. 3 and4. Me~ured datain Fig.
moist air absorptiondatawere fitted with 10% ms to l6 4 spana raqe from 160 to 920 GHP MPM-pnxkkd
attenuationrates a(u) are plotted in Fig. 5 fur sea-level
N,” = e&c -t bgd)lObv porn, (6) conditions(100%RH) at five temperatures(& 4OT).
wherek, = 0.357 $‘.5 and & = 0.0113 8’. This equation
was thenappliedto definethe continuumfor MPMS9.’ 2.5 Cloud/Fog ModuIe
At 213.5 GHz, new absorptiondataof moist nitrogenhave The inkracticmof suspendedwater druplc~ ad ice crystals
been repurted,‘8 which fitted with an oxygen-f-m WM with radio waves is treated by employing the Rayleigh
exceptionallywell to Eq. (6): approximationfor Mie extinction,
l$ = 0.4448 ‘*!I (0.4% mm) and rJW = l.5 Cw /n4y,i)[(QJ - I)(%,i + 2)-’ 11 (8)

kf = 0.0145 8 4p5 (1.0% rms).
Similar data closer to the 18%GHzline canterl7 yielded
initially a fitting error of 14.6% rms, which improved m
4.5% rms when the theoreticalI2 strengthvalue b, w
increasedby 5 percent.A theoreticalapproximationof the
real part?
Ni = eB2’50.791x106$ ppm,
was also considtxd in the fitting exercise.
WhereQ,i = 1 and 0,916 @./cm3 ) are specificweights,and
G,i complexpermittiviticsof WOW and ice, respe~tivcly.~
For the sizespectra(r 5 50 pm) of suqn~~Wwaterdroplets,
Fq. (8) is valid up to about300GIIz. Fog or cloudconditions
are specifiedby a watermassdensityw. Waterdroplets form
whenthe relativehumidity exceeds saturation, u = la - 101
percent, wherebyl can be 85 low as - WC (sumIed
state).Propagationeffects caused by ice crystals(needlesand
plates)are primarily depckizing and scatteringin nature,
 wt- F’ 1 ’ r - I

Itr) 1
I
..t , -8 ‘_---. --- .--- i., .- .._.__
_...-.. -.--
i
I

TemwzratureT. K
Figure 2, Abwrption data IN’ versus t@rnperature T in k&in: LB/ m&t eir at 137.8 GHz @ = 1013 mb, u = 80%) le ) SWAMI
(& mixture of water vepor and nitragen IlS6.3 end 190,3 GWz,p = 1000 mb, u = 10%) ‘If, - MPMg3,

1CKKKI

E
x 1000
Tci?
TY
100

10

01+

0.01

Frequency Y, GHr
Figure 4. Attenuation rate a and continuum of moist air {U = 43.4%) and of dry sir (u = 0) BS predicted by MPM93 for
standard sea-level conditions (p = 1013 mb, f = 2CPC). Data points are from Ref, 19.
 TABLE 1.

Ctmter Freq. Width *=w

vk a3* 4 as* as*
kHzhb MHzhb --iiPLr GH.2 -b
XI.474238 9*- 9AB4 0.89 0.8 u.240emu 22*235uaQ 2,143 2.811 4.80 0.69 1.00
M.937749 2.46uEm a.694 0.91 0*8 o*m 0.780 67*803%0 8.735 2.858 4.93 0.69 0.82
51.503350 6+WBW7 7.744 0.94 0.8 cm7 0.774 119.995940 8.356 2943 4+78 0.70 0.79
52.02~410 1.414E-a 6,844 a97 04 CL166 0.764 183.3lm91 0.668 3.MO+ x30 0.64 0.85
52+542394 3. mEm5 6*004 0.99 0*8 OS6 0.751 321.225644 6,181 2,303 4.69 0.67 0.54
53.066907 6*4louK 5,234 l&2 0.8 O-131 0,714 325.152919 ls4u 2,783 4.85 0.68 0.74
53s95749 1.247JM5 4.484 1.05 OA cm0 0.534 336.-l 9,829 2,693 4.74 0.69 OS61
54.130000 2*m5 3.814 1.07 0.8 0,335 0.431 380.197372 1.048 2+873 5.38 OM+ 0+89+
54.671159 3+918Eos 3,194 1.10 CL8 0.374 0.305 390.134m 7.350 2.152 4.81 0.63 0.55
55*221367 6.316INS 2624 1.13 0.8 0,258 0.339 437.346667 5.050 1.845 4.23 0.60 0.48
55*7838m 9.535Ea 2,119 1.17 0.8 Amsi!5 0.705 439JxM2 3.5% 2.100 4.29 0.63 0.52
56.264775 5.439E-05 0.015 1.73 0.8 0,390 -0,113 443.018295 5*05-Q L&60 4.23 0.60 0.50
56x3389 1.344EAM lAH5Q 1m 0.8 4297 0,753 44&.001075 1.405 2.632 4.84 0.66 0*67
56.m 1,763E-w 1.260 124 0.8 -0.416 0.742 47o.gss947 3.599 2.152 4.57 0.66 CL65
57.6DW 2s4E.a 0.915 l-28 0.8 AI.613 0.697 474.689127 2.381 2.355 4.65 0.65 0.64
58.323877 2.3&iE-O4 0,626 1*33 0.8 Q+205 0.051 488.491133 2.853 2.602 5.04 0.69 0.72
58+4%6590 ~,457EoQ O.U34 l-52 0.8 0.748 a*146 503.568532 6.733 1.612 3.98 0.61 0.43
59. m54207 2.am 0.391 1.39 0.8 4.722 u266 5u4.482692 6.733 1.612 4.01 0.61 0.45
59.590983 2.112FAba 0.212 l-43 0.8 0,765 Q.090 547+67644U+ 0,114 2.600 4.50 O-70 1.00
6u.Wl 2.124m 0.212 1.45 0,8 -0.705 0.081 552.o20960* 0.~14 2.600 4.50 a70 1.00
60.434776 2.461E-M 0.391 1.36 0.8 0.697 -0.324 556936m2 0.159 3.210 4.11 0.69 1.00
61.150560 2xm-w 0.626 1.31 0.8 0.104 -cm57 620.7oosM 2.200 2.438 4.68 0.71 0.60
61.8001~ 2.298E-04 0.9 15 1.27 0.8 0.570 4x761 645.866155+ 8.580 1.8w 4.00 0.60 0.50
62.411215 1.933J3-w 1*26u 1.23 0.8 0.36Q -0.777 658.005280 7.820 3.210 4.14 0.69 1.00
62.4&!%0 lSl7EAM 0.083 1.54 0+8 -0,498 0.097 752.033227 0.3% 3.McI 4B9 0.68 0.84
62.997977 l.so3~ 1.665 1.20 0.8 0.239 -0.768 841a53973 8.180 1.590 5+76 a33 a45
63.563518 1.o87E-04 2.115 I.17 0.8 u.108 -0.7m5 859.962313 7.989 3.tKo 4.09 a60 0.84
64.127767 7.33!iEQ5 2.620 I.13 0.8 -0.311 AI.332 899.3i#675 7,917 2.985 4.53 0.68 U-90
64.678903 4*635Ew 3.195 1.10 0.8 -0.421 -0.298 902.616173 8.432 2.865 5.10 0.70 0.95
65.224071 2.74&W% 3.815 1.07 0.8 -0.375 -0.423 906.207325 5.111 2.408 4.70 0.70 0.53
65.764772 1.53oEos Q-485 1.05 0.8 -0.267 -0.575 916.171582 1.442 2.670 4.78 0.70 0.78
66.m1 8lNmxh!5 5.225 1.02 0.8 -0.168 -0.700 923.118427* IQ.22 2.900 5.00 0.70 0.00
66.83603u 3.w 6.005 0.99 Q.8 -0.169 -0.735 970.315022 1.920 2.550 4.94 0.64 0.67
673#9598 1.832E-M 6.845 CL97 0.8 mm -0.744 987.926764 0258 2.985 4.55 0.68 wu
67.9m67 8.OloE-M 7.745 0.94 Cl.8 4.220 4,753
68.43loM 3.w 8.695 0.92 0.8 4mKl -0.760 1780* 2230 0.952 17.6 30.5 2 5
63.%031r 1.- 9.695 0.90 0.8 -0.250 -0,765
~~8.7$0343 9.45oE-M 0.009 lA3 0.8 -0.u34 um9
,I .I.. l . . . . . . *..*I...*.* ..I. *.*.*.*.*.*..*.*.*...*.* ..I. *.*.*.*.*..* . . . . . . . . I . . . . . II 1.1.. l I... l .* 11.11.. I...... I..... l .1...*..... l .*..

36k498350 6.79OE-M 0.049 1.92 0.2 0 0

424.763124 6.38iE-05 0.044 1.93 0.2 0 0
407249370 2.35oEo5 0.049 1.92 0.2 0 0
715.393150 9JtxE-m 0.145 1.81 0.2 0 0
773.83%75 6.7 1oE-M 0.130 1.82 0.2 0 0
834.145330 1.3wEu5 0.147 1.81 0.2 0 0
3-6

given spatial remlutim, high frequencyresolutionand, in

mtmt to k/optical ranges,a favorableperformanceunder
loo00 fwcloud conditions. Beside technical difficulties, the
attenuatingnatureof the euth’s atmosphm seriouslylimits
IWO usablepath lengths. Except for a few window ranges, the
mediumat grwmd levels(h sz 1 km) is opaquedue to strong
s &-cm lineaof water vapor. High mountain sitea
$lW (h s 4 km), airphes (h 5 15 km), and balloons
d (h 5 35 km) are alternativeplatfotms to escapethe water-
vapcxlimitations,
8 10
l 6
A pnzdictiveb&band (1 - HKKI GHz) motkl for radio
1 characteristicsof the neutralatmosphere (h s 130 km) was
developedto srllowpromptevaluationsof the highly variable
pqmgatim cf’fects from basic datzt. Performanoc of
i

u
01c
0.01
0 500 loo0
~~=ww, a-i2
Figure6. Attenuation a af m&t air (U = 100%) for
frequencies below 1000 GHr at mea-levd
@ = 1013 rnM and temperaturesk 4WC:
- MPM93, ma+Continuum.
l was discussedin Sect, 2. Height profiles of N are the basis
Complexpcrmittivity of purewateris txpm
Bebye rncxkJz
Ew= %I- p cc%- Clw + i Tl) + (q * 9 w + i ~~1,(9)
which provideda bestfit to measuredeWdata.The static and
high-frequencypermittivitkx arc
co = 77.66 + lo3.3 (8 - 1),
71 = 20.20 - 146(@- 1) + 316 (8 - 1)2 ,
72 = 39.8 y1 cm.
The slight temperaturedqer&wc of e2 (repottedin Ref. 22)
ww eliminatedto avoid nonphysic&behaviorfor wiled
(-20 to -40°C) water at fnquenciea&ove 100 GHz,
A permittivity modelfor ice was reportedby Hufford,23
where
ai = (8 - 0.171)exp(l7.0 - 22.18)
and
bi = ([0.233/(1 - O.PP3/#)]’ + 6.33/d * 1.31) lQw5*
The MPM for fog/cloudcasesis N = ND + Nv + NW.
Relatedattenuation(a) anddelay(7) raw up to 12UGHz arc
plottedin Fig. 6 for 8 ncsmalized massdensity,w = 1 g/m3
(heavyfog, about50 m visibility) suspendedin saturated,sea-
level air (& 30°C). Below freezing, liquid propertieswere
changed to thoseof ice, Above freezingone noticesthat the
combinedattenuationis almostindependentof ~~~EIWUIE.
3, RADIO-PATH CE!CARAC~~~
The electromagnetic spectrum between 100 and loo0 GHz is
avail&lc to expandradio scrvices~This bandoffers fkvorable
altcmatives to both micfuwave and ir/optical systems.
Applicationsin communication,r&r, rurdremotesensingcan
profit from kger bandwidth,smallerantennasizesfor a
establisbcdapplications(S 30 GHz) can be translatedto
(fnqumcy skiing) or combined with new schemesand
uxmomical assssmentsof feasibletrade-offsand adaptive
measurescanbemade.
3.1 T’rmmbion and EmIssIon Formulations
E’mpagation through the non~tteting and nonturbuknt
inhomogeneous atmosphereis described by the line inkgral
1 Nds, whereds is a pathdif’krenti andthe M?actkity N
by 1 double- fix calcuIatiagdelayand kiss along the path. Excess delay,
D = 3,3356 j (N, 4 N’)ds ps,
A = 0,182Ov j W ds ds,
(11)
to the imaginwy part.% The transmissionfactor,
r = 1fpl A, (12)
evaluates the energy transfer. A path is said to be opaque
whenlessthan 0.1% of the original energyis passed
(T S 0.001, A 2 30 dB). The abwtiing atmosphere
maintains, up to approximately 90 km height, tkrmal
equilibrium and emits nok radiation at the equivalent
blackb&y temperature,
T3 = 4.191~10-’ Y j T(s) N”(s) I&s) ds K. (13
Ikaasing transmissionkads to increasingemission, The
weightiflgfunction,
W(s) = 4.191 x lct2 Y rV(s) F(s,,s), (14)
determines the height range from where the emission
originates.Two casescan be madebasedon the integration
limits for A. III the first one, A is evaluatA ‘upwards”,
startingat the initial height, h, ; secondly,the start is at the
final height, h, , and move ‘downwanh?. Reciprocity
WW~ pathattenuationAi ad brightnessTB i WM assumed
fa potization-msitive computations b& &I the matrix N.
3,2 Atmcspherk RadbPbtth Model
The MPM code(seeSect,2) is q@ied in 8 tiio-path model
which simulates pnqagation through M inhomogeneous
medium.Theatmosphere is spherk-ally stratified in concentric
layers betwm h = 0 and 130 km separated by I-km
increments(Ah). Valuesfor N(h) arc enumer&d by height
profiles of p(h), a)* and @I). T’he U.S. Standard
Atmosphm and the mid-latitudemean water-vapor profile ;”
art the defaultsof the path model. All computedexamples
given below are for the default case. It is not difficuIt to
implement different modelatmosphere or radiosonde data.
 Fmqumcy Y, GHt Frequency Y, GHz
Figure 8. Attenuation rate a(u) and delay rate T(P) up to 120 GHz at temperatures + 3CPC:
(8j Moist air at 3ea-level, u = 100 %, (I) water droplets or ice crystals, w = 1 g/m’ , added ta (8).

TA8LE 3.
The pathdifferentialds of 8 slantpath is computedby means Total Attenuation A and Emission Ts ot 21 and 45 GHz
of the rules of qhxid geometry. For elevation angles,
Through a Model Atmosphere.24
p 2 lOa, the secant law ds = Ahhin v follows. In fact,
both the curvatureof the Earth and refractiondeterminethe Surfiw value3at lq 1013mb, WC, q = 3.57 g/m3
path extensionof Ah. At very low elevationangles(p --cO), ( j q&m = 10.6 mm for zenith, 9 = 90”)
the height intad Ah is subdividedinto I~X~.l-km and 1
further, if weded, into 1OXO.Wkm groupsto approximate V A : Ts cp hem L.
mart nearly a continuumof N V&EL When a maximum dB : K
GHZ deg km km
change of A, - A,, 2 0.1 dB is detectedwoss an 1
integration lqcr, the linear in&erplation initiates 21.0 0.28 ! 19.2 90 11 11
&Uto~dlY.
I
0.56 t 34+9 3u 13 26
I
The numerkal integrationof A (Eq* 11) stopsat heights h, 0.32 j 48s 20 15 44
when increments AA become smaller than 0.01 dB (fw a limb 1.60 ! 35.1 10 17 94
pth &er advancingpast the tangentialheight). The path I
lengthL is that betweenh, and b, ti A numericalintegration 15.7 ! 274.4 0 26 577
1 ‘..” ”
of T, @q, 13)for emissionradiatingto theheightb, follows 45.0 0.66 1 39.2 90 17 17
TB - W303 ch r(h)& - Ah-,)rm)l + 2.7 r(=), (15) 1.32 i 71.1 30 19 38
where 2,7 r(m) is the cosmicbackgroundterm. Superfluow 1.93 ! 96.4 20 22 64
I
cmmputatims are stopped when W(h) 5 lad . The radio-path 3.74 i 154.9 10 21 115
model operatesat any frequencybetween 1 and loo0 GHz,
and Table 3 summarks rcsult~for 21 and 45 GHz, Listed 32.0 : 2856 0 31 650
3-8

are the path attenuationof a ground-to-spacelink and the
noiseemissionrecekd at groundlevel (e,g*, for p = 0 and
21 GHz the absorbingair massis 56 timesthe zenithvidue)~
3.3 Mewspheric Radkd’uh Model
The intensity of O2 microwave lines under mewspheric
conditions (2 40 km) is location-, ditectiorr-, and
polarization-sensitive,Anisotropictransmition andemission
effectsarerecognizd, Undertheseconditionstheatmoqheric
path model programsubstitutesfor N the rcfnctivity matrix
Attenuationsperm arc plottedin Fig. 7 over the range,
ye & 2 MHz. F’athattcnutim 4 dcptnds on the initial
pcdarizatiun (i - HL, VL, RC, LC), The tin featuresof
the Zeernaneffect are exposedwhencorn@ with the case
B= a
354 MillimWWave Limb So~ndiq
The microwavelimb munder MLS on the LIARS satellitc~
andthe millimeter-waveatmosphericsounderMAS 27 on the
spaceshuttle(ATLAS Missions I, II, m.) Bath are very
l

N (vl, & 10 MHz, . 4), and becomesZPM (Zeern~
Propagation, Model).8~9 This routine requires numerou3
additionalpathparamckn to petiorm a numericalinkgmtiom
of the path atknuatIonAi :
l A ray is traced in geodetic coordinatesmarking
altitudeh abovesealevel, LA titudemd LO ngitude
[heightsin N-S directionsarhijusted to &unt for
the fiat&kg (1/298.25)of the Earth]
a The waw directionis specifiedby AZ-imuth and
elevation angle p
+ Magnitudeanddirectionof thevectorB* arecomputed
using the Int. G~magnetic ReferenceField (IGRP-
MAGFIN) =
+ PoIarizationof launchedwaveor emittednoisepower
is selected(HWLinw or R&Circular)
+ A frequuency rangeis set in tem~sof deviationfrom
the selectedCl2 line cxxter (Au = pl & u),
Two characteristicWBWSa~ representedby normalized
St&es pamctm and combined to pduce tie initial
pularizati~n.~ This combinationis then tmed through the
propagaticmdistanceL. Eige~~values and eigenvector~of the
2X2 plaewave refractivity matrix arc calculatedfor the
mkmtation angle tj~betweenwave vector E* and magnetic
VectcK The propagating field is %linear combinationof
If l 70”N, 7O*W (shuttle at 57ON, antenna loob north) andat the
two charactistic wwes.
Individual intqration stepsof ZPM at tie line center,
ti = 61.150 GHz, are detailed in Table 4: A ray originatxz
at the 300&m orbital height (h, LA, LO, AZ, and p) and
passesthrough the atmosphereto a minimum, tangentiaI
height, 4 = 90 km.
refined atmosphericspectrometers.They measureglobally
thefmalemission spectraof atmosphericmole&s at a&it-u&
as high as 150km. The resulti cab be intqr&ed in prufUes
of molecular&~ndances,temperature,pressure,ad mqn&ic
field. Line emissionis meawed againsta 3 K backgrowd
over path lengthswhich are up to thm of magnitude
longer than available for laboratory spect~~~y~ A
previouslyunhewn dewtim sensitivitybringsanswersto old
problemsand raisesmanynew questions.
The MAS radiometers 27 mewwe thed emissionfrom 02
(61. l1 63.0, 63.6 GHz) and %O (183 GHz), and from the
trace gasesCl3 (184 GHz) and Cl0 (204 GHz), An HL
plariz.4 gwlcil-beamis scanneddowrlwwdsfrom the shuttle
orbit (300 km) thruugh the limb. Tn normal operation, the
mtinuous vertical scan is calibrated(2.7 and 300 K) and
repeats every 12.8 seconds.The radbmcten are super-
heterodyfierewive~tith double-sideband (DSB)d&&ion. A
filter bank follows, which qarates the receivedJI&IGpower
into 10x ~&MHZ, 20x ~-MHZ, and20x 0,2-M& outputs.
Emissiondataof the threeC&lines centwedat 61,15, 63.00,
and 63,57 GHz have been ~alyned.~ The tangentiaI heights
ranged from 125 to 10 km. Two 1otWionswere slated:
equat.or. The data are grouped in 5&m height increments and
av4xagedover five scans(I .2 s inkgfation).
The examplegiven here is for the 6lJ50 GHZ line. The
upper sideband (image) at 71,630 GHz respondsto cosmic
background radiation (2,7 K). The measured meanis to tit
order about half the theor&& singlesidebandlevel.

I
1 PT deli! I’1I km
:I 0 67.8 K (ZPM) 63&2 K (IdAS)
II I!
4 + T#SB) = 13L2 l74+5 153-O 153.0K
I i 1
129 65.2 -70 0 -6.39 ~ 55.1 78.4 :, 954 o,MJ 0.00 : ml AXKI 0.00 0.00
I
4 : 4 : : t i
I I
91 70.4 -70 0 -1.14 55.4 35.6 i 1548 l*xl 2.92 1 .060 .094 2.03 2.03
I
90 71.0 -70 0 -0.53 55,4 86.2 : 1616 1.97 4.45 f .a99 m126 3.w 3*w
I 1
91 72.1 -70 0 OS 55.3 37-3 : 1736 3.39 7,66 : .lS I127 5.02 m2
I I
92 72.7 -70 0 1,14 55.2 88.4 : 1805 4.06 9.20 : .061 ,042 ! 5.91 5.91
4
i-
I
! c II
i
I
! :
129
130
77.7
-7x8
-70
-70
0
0
6.15
6,23
53.7
53.7
94.9 1 2371
1
95.0 i 2380 I 5.15
5,15
11.68 1 Am
11,68 1 .ooo
Am
+ooo I 7.29 7.29
7.29 7.29
 3-9

Linear Pdarization
vh(9+)=61.15 Gt-k; h,=90 km

t- , ,.___. jp- f---q-q? .---- -.:-

II._-_.--, --ff,L--

--_ Y- ------
-- a -R-

-m
- / -- --- --FeT -__- - \ i. \ II -
Lx \
cxt

Frequency Devietion Av, MHz

Figure 7, Spectra Iu, * 2 MHz) of total attenuations 4

Ii - HL, VLI end 4 03 = 01 for B limb path
Ih, = 9Okml through the U.S. Std. Atm. 24 at
two locations marked (a) and (b}.

Thedata~~minFig.8 and2wveasatcstciucfor
2PM prcdicticms.~~25 Limb-emissionwas meawred fa
tangmtial heightsranging~FCMII
30 to 120km at the noticrr~
kmtim 71*N/7O”W. T&k 4 lists the vuhbles that enter a
computatia of T&J& Very height-&&e (Ah 5 1 km)
temperaturesoundingbetween115and MI km is indicatedby
the weightingfunctionW(h), Eg. (14), At b = 78 km, the
pathabruptlykoomts opaqueandTB assumesabouthalf the
physical terqwratllre of the 78&m kvel(93 K), Below
I+ = 40 km, the uppersidebandat 71.63 GHz *wam~ up’
due to abscxptio~by water vqor and dry air, which is
ccmptcd by meansof MPM.
4* CONCLCUSIONS Figura 8. DS&emis.sion of ttw 9+ Cine (ull; * ,3 MHz)
IWpgatim cbaracteristies of the atmosphere zue ptiickd by from a limb scan, I+ = 30 to 120 km,
the generalr&activity N, andfor Zeeman-broadening by the approximatly centerecl over 70 CJ
N, 70 QW:
q&al r&activity matrix IV. Transmissionand emission (al ZPM predictions for HI. pdariration and
propertiesof the inhamogerwwsatmosphere(eg., excess lb, MAS data-.
path delay, total attemtaticm,opacity, sky noise, eta) were
modeledfrom knownpath profiles of physicalvafiakks.

The new code MEW93 IepKKlum the spectral cbteristics

of the ckar mosphere (92, H@) between18and930 GHz
within the uncertainty limit3 of five report4 cxmtrollcd
experiments+IS * I9
3-10
ACKNOW
The work was supported in part by the U, S, Army At-
mospheric Sciences Laboratory, ARL, SLCAS~BA under
ReferenceNu, ASL 92-8058.
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 Discussion

Discussor’s name : u* Lmers, us

Comment/Question :
How did you achieve your 25Ommeasurementpath length in the laboratory?

Author/Presenter’s reply :
A Fabxy-Perot resonator with a loaded Q-value of 400 000 yields by means of multiple
r~~fl~tions over a 30 cm path in semiconfocalarrangementthe effective path length