Specific Attenuation: Theoretical vs. Empirical Sensitivity Analysis with Atmospheric Variables

Abstract

Atmospheric specific attenuation, particularly at microwave and millimeter-wave frequencies, remains a critical parameter for radio propagation modeling in terrestrial and satellite communications. The International Telecommunication Union Radiocommunication (ITU-R) Recommendation P.676 provides a widely accepted model for calculating specific attenuation due to gaseous absorption. This paper examines the sensitivity of the ITU-R P.676-12 model to variations in meteorological input parameters, specifically ambient temperature (T) and water vapor density (ρ). By comparing the theoretical predictions of the gaseous absorption model against high-resolution empirical datasets, we identify discrepancies in the model’s performance under extreme humidity and temperature fluctuations. The effect of pressure, temperature, and relative humidity on both models is investigated using sensitivity analysis.