On the Use of the Integrated Global Radiosonde Archive in Satellite Propagation Studies in Bolivia

Abstract

As the use of high frequency bands, is becoming more and more attractive for using on future commercial and military satellite communications, the effects of atmospheric water vapor and oxygen are more relevant. In order to reduce gaseous absorption effects, high altitude sites can be good candidates for deploying high capacity ground stations at these frequencies. This paper explores the use of radiosoundings carried out in La Paz, Bolivia, at 4061 m.a.s.l., extracted from the Integrated Global Radiosonde Archive (IGRA), in order to estimate gaseous attenuation based on the last version of the ITU-R Recommendation P.676. Time series of gaseous attenuation at Ka, Q, V and W band are presented.