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Estimation of Clear-Air Atmospheric Effective Earth Radius (K-Factor) in Calabar

Received: 16 October 2016     Accepted: 20 January 2017     Published: 21 July 2017
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Abstract

Microwave radio propagation in terrestrial radio links over the years has earned increased application and there has been renewed attention of studies concerning techniques for estimating the probability of multipath fading distributions. Particularly, the secondary radio parameters remain very important in carrying out these estimations especially the concept of effective earth radius. This study was carried out in Calabar, South-south Nigeria with three years atmospheric parameters data obtained from Nigerian Meteorological Agency (NIMET). International Telecommunication recommendation models were used in obtaining point refractivity gradient with which the effective earth radius factor was determined. The result showed a yearly average value of 1.626091667 for the k-factor and yearly average value of -125.50845 for the point refractivity gradient. There are also monthly and seasonal variations in the two parameters. The highest k-factor of 1.8263 occurred in January whereas the least k-factor of 1.3396 occurred in November.

Published in International Journal of Information and Communication Sciences (Volume 2, Issue 3)
DOI 10.11648/j.ijics.20170203.12
Page(s) 35-37
Creative Commons

This is an Open Access article, distributed under the terms of the Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 International License (http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/), which permits unrestricted use, distribution and reproduction in any medium or format, provided the original work is properly cited.

Copyright

Copyright © The Author(s), 2017. Published by Science Publishing Group

Keywords

Radio Propagation, Microwave Radio, Refractivity, Multipath Fading, Effective Earth Radius, K-Factor, Point Refractivity Gradient

References
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[8] Adeyemi, B., & Emmanuel, I. (2011). Monitoring tropospheric radio refractivity over Nigeria Using CM-SAF data derived from NOAA-15, 16 and 18 Satellites. Indian Journal of Radio & Space Physics, 40 (6), 301-310.
[9] Falade, J. A., Adesanya, S. O., & Akinyemi, G. A. (2014). Variability of meteorological factors on surface refractive index over Mowe, a coastal area in Nigeria. Indian Journal of Radio & Space Physics, 43, 355-361.
[10] Nyete, A. M., & Afullo, T. J. O. (2013). Seasonal distribution modeling and mapping of the effective earth radius factor for microwave link design in south africa. Progress In Electromagnetics Research B, 51, 1-32.
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[14] ITU (1994) International Telecommunications Union (ITU-R, 1994). Definition of terms relating to propagation in ionized media. International Telecommunications Union, Geneva, Recommendation of ITU-R PN. 310-9.
[15] Skolnik M. (2001). Introduction to radar systems. 3rd edition, Mcgraw-Hill, New York.
[16] Odedina, P. K., & Afullo, T. J. (2006). On the k-factor distribution and diffraction fading for Southern Africa. SAIEE Africa Research Journal, 97 (2).
[17] Okoro, O. N., & Agbo, G. A. (2016). The effect of variation of meteorological parameters on the tropospheric radio refractivity for minna. Global Journal of Science Frontier Research, 12 (2-A).
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  • APA Style

    Isaac A. Ezenugu, Umoren Ifiok Anthony, Okon Abasiama Colman. (2017). Estimation of Clear-Air Atmospheric Effective Earth Radius (K-Factor) in Calabar. International Journal of Information and Communication Sciences, 2(3), 35-37. https://doi.org/10.11648/j.ijics.20170203.12

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    ACS Style

    Isaac A. Ezenugu; Umoren Ifiok Anthony; Okon Abasiama Colman. Estimation of Clear-Air Atmospheric Effective Earth Radius (K-Factor) in Calabar. Int. J. Inf. Commun. Sci. 2017, 2(3), 35-37. doi: 10.11648/j.ijics.20170203.12

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    AMA Style

    Isaac A. Ezenugu, Umoren Ifiok Anthony, Okon Abasiama Colman. Estimation of Clear-Air Atmospheric Effective Earth Radius (K-Factor) in Calabar. Int J Inf Commun Sci. 2017;2(3):35-37. doi: 10.11648/j.ijics.20170203.12

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  • @article{10.11648/j.ijics.20170203.12,
      author = {Isaac A. Ezenugu and Umoren Ifiok Anthony and Okon Abasiama Colman},
      title = {Estimation of Clear-Air Atmospheric Effective Earth Radius (K-Factor) in Calabar},
      journal = {International Journal of Information and Communication Sciences},
      volume = {2},
      number = {3},
      pages = {35-37},
      doi = {10.11648/j.ijics.20170203.12},
      url = {https://doi.org/10.11648/j.ijics.20170203.12},
      eprint = {https://article.sciencepublishinggroup.com/pdf/10.11648.j.ijics.20170203.12},
      abstract = {Microwave radio propagation in terrestrial radio links over the years has earned increased application and there has been renewed attention of studies concerning techniques for estimating the probability of multipath fading distributions. Particularly, the secondary radio parameters remain very important in carrying out these estimations especially the concept of effective earth radius. This study was carried out in Calabar, South-south Nigeria with three years atmospheric parameters data obtained from Nigerian Meteorological Agency (NIMET). International Telecommunication recommendation models were used in obtaining point refractivity gradient with which the effective earth radius factor was determined. The result showed a yearly average value of 1.626091667 for the k-factor and yearly average value of -125.50845 for the point refractivity gradient. There are also monthly and seasonal variations in the two parameters. The highest k-factor of 1.8263 occurred in January whereas the least k-factor of 1.3396 occurred in November.},
     year = {2017}
    }
    

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  • TY  - JOUR
    T1  - Estimation of Clear-Air Atmospheric Effective Earth Radius (K-Factor) in Calabar
    AU  - Isaac A. Ezenugu
    AU  - Umoren Ifiok Anthony
    AU  - Okon Abasiama Colman
    Y1  - 2017/07/21
    PY  - 2017
    N1  - https://doi.org/10.11648/j.ijics.20170203.12
    DO  - 10.11648/j.ijics.20170203.12
    T2  - International Journal of Information and Communication Sciences
    JF  - International Journal of Information and Communication Sciences
    JO  - International Journal of Information and Communication Sciences
    SP  - 35
    EP  - 37
    PB  - Science Publishing Group
    SN  - 2575-1719
    UR  - https://doi.org/10.11648/j.ijics.20170203.12
    AB  - Microwave radio propagation in terrestrial radio links over the years has earned increased application and there has been renewed attention of studies concerning techniques for estimating the probability of multipath fading distributions. Particularly, the secondary radio parameters remain very important in carrying out these estimations especially the concept of effective earth radius. This study was carried out in Calabar, South-south Nigeria with three years atmospheric parameters data obtained from Nigerian Meteorological Agency (NIMET). International Telecommunication recommendation models were used in obtaining point refractivity gradient with which the effective earth radius factor was determined. The result showed a yearly average value of 1.626091667 for the k-factor and yearly average value of -125.50845 for the point refractivity gradient. There are also monthly and seasonal variations in the two parameters. The highest k-factor of 1.8263 occurred in January whereas the least k-factor of 1.3396 occurred in November.
    VL  - 2
    IS  - 3
    ER  - 

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Author Information
  • Department of Electrical Engineering, Imo State University (IMSU), Owerri, NigeriaDepartment of Electrical Engineering, Imo State University (IMSU), Owerri, Nigeria

  • Department of Electrical Engineering, Imo State University (IMSU), Owerri, Nigeria

  • Department of Electrical/Electronic and Computer Engineering, University of Uyo, AkwaIbom, Nigeria

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