Surface refractivity profile and validation of measurements in Arabian Gulf region

Abstract

In this paper, long-term meteorological data are measured using six fixed surface weather stations and one radiosonde in the subtropical Arabian Gulf region, in particular United Arab Emirates (UAE). The surface refractivity profiles, Ns, and refractivity extrapolated to sea level, No, obtained from surface meteorological data using both fixed and radiosonde stations are investigated and compared. The monthly and cumulative distributions of dry, wet and net components of Ns and surface meteorological parameters obtained using both fixed and radiosonde stations are also presented and compared. The obtained results are compared with ITU maps for similar propagation parameters showing non-coherence in some cases.