Deterioration of the performance of a troposcatter link due to the localized meteorological phenomena

Abstract

The deteriorated performance of a troposcatter link situated in tropical desert has been tested. The signal level is found to vary between -90 dBm and -110 dBm during the disturbed period from 1800 to 2200 hrs LT in the premonsoon months (March-May). The refractivity gradients deduced from radiosonde and slow rising balloons measurements are found to be of low order (-20N units/km to -35 N units/km) during the disturbed period across around 850 m to 1.3 km. The deterioration is due to the localized meteorological phenomena. Such disturbances are difficult to predict or to take into account at the design and installation stage. The change of antenna height, raising/increasing of the scattering volume and vertically spaced diversity are some of the effective measures to improve the performance of the link.