Estimation of Cloud Attenuation over Bangkok, Thailand Based on an ITU-R Model

Abstract

We estimated satellite signal degradation by cloud. Cloud attenuation over Bangkok, Thailand, was estimated with an International Telecommunication Union Radiocommunication sector (ITU-R) model. The estimation was done at several high frequency bands: Ku, Ka and Q/V band with a variety of antenna elevation angles at the ground station of THAICOM satellite. According to the ITU-R model, the worst possible case of cloud attenuation over Thailand in Ku band would be 0.6 dB but in V band could be up to 9 dB. In the Ka band, cloud attenuation was the worst for Singapore, followed by Japan, Thailand and Italy. This estimation scheme may benefit new developers of satellites and their ground stations.