Atmospheric Communication Channels

Abstract

This chapter focuses on the effects of the troposphere on optical wave propagation starting with a definition of the troposphere as a natural layered air medium consisting of different gaseous, liquid, and crystal structures. In optical communication, the dense aerosol/dust layers, as part of the wireless atmospheric communication channel, can cause signal power attenuation, as well as temporal and spatial signal fluctuations. Atmospheric turbulence is a chaotic phenomenon created by random temperature, wind magnitude variation, and direction variation in the propagation. The chapter shows that atmospheric turbulences due to their motion can cause strong frequency‐selective or flat fast fading. It analyzes some effects of the turbulent structures on optical signals/rays passing gaseous turbulent irregular atmosphere. The chapter summarizes that for all effects of hydrometeors, as well as fast fading caused by atmospheric turbulences, multipath phenomena due to atmospheric inhomogeneities and diffuse scattering should be taken into account in land–atmospheric, or atmospheric–atmospheric optical communication links. .