rain attenuation

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Last updated

July 13, 2026

Quick Summary

Rain attenuation refers to the loss of signal strength that occurs when radio waves travel through rain. This phenomenon is particularly significant for frequencies above 10 gigahertz.1

Causes of Rain Attenuation

Absorption: Water droplets in the atmosphere absorb radio wave energy.
Scattering: Raindrops can scatter radio waves, redirecting them away from the intended receiver.

This attenuation is the dominant form of signal loss for radio frequencies between 10 gigahertz and 500 gigahertz, which fall within the microwave and submillimeter wavelength ranges. While atmospheric effects like absorption and scattering are generally small for microwave frequencies, heavy rainfall can cause substantial signal degradation, impacting the performance of systems like radar and telecommunications.12

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telecommunications media
Atmospheric propagation
Scattering loss due to heavy rainfall is the dominant form of attenuation for radio frequencies ranging from 10 gigahertz to 500 gigahertz (microwave to submillimetre wavelengths), while scattering loss due to fog dominates for frequencies ranging from 10³ gigahertz to 10⁶ gigahertz (infrared through visible light range).
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Scattering loss due to heavy rainfall is the dominant form of attenuation for radio frequencies ranging from 10 gigahertz to 500 gigahertz (microwave to submillimetre wavelengths), while scattering loss due to fog dominates for frequencies ranging from 10³ gigahertz to 10⁶ gigahertz (infrared through visible light range).
Read More