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Table 1. Atmospheric Attenuation. In passing through the atmosphere, radio waves may be attenuated by two basic mechanisms: absorption and scattering. The absorption is mainly due to oxygen and water vapor. The scattering is due almost entirely to condensed water vapour (e.g., raindrops, aerosal). Absorption The molecules of oxygen and water vapor have resonant frequencies. When excited at these frequencies, they absorb more energy. Hence the peaks in the absorption curve. The peaks are broadened by molecular collisions and so are sharper at high altitudes, where the atmosphere is less dense, but their frequencies are the same. The peaks at 22 GHz and 185 GHz are due to water vapor. Those at 60 GHz and 120 GHz are due to oxygen. The regions between peaks are called windows. 35-40 GHz and 94 GHz From: Introduction to Airborne Radar 2nd George W STIMSON

Both absorption and scattering increase with frequency. Below about 0.1 GHz, atmospheric attenuation is negligible. Above about 10 GHz, it becomes increasingly important.

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Table 2. Scattering Scattering. Radio waves are scattered by particles suspended in the atmosphere. Scattering increases with the particies dielectric constant and size relative to wavelength. Scattering becomes severe when the size is comparable to a wavelength. The principal scatterers are raindrops and, to a lesser extent, hail (because of its much lower dielectric constant). Snowflakes, which contain less water and have lower fali rates, scatter less energy. Clouds, which consist of tiny droplets, scatter still less. Smoke and dust are negligible scatterers because of their small particle size and low dielectric constant. Scattering becomes noticeable in the S-band (3 GHz). At those frequencies and higher, backscattering is sufficient to make rain visibie. Both absorption and scattering by clouds are still negligible in the S-band. So meteorological radars operating there can measure rainfall rates without being hampered by attenuation due to clouds or by receiving enough backscatter from them to be confused with precipitation. Above 10 GHz, scattering and absorption by clouds becomes appreciable. The attenuation is proportional to the amount of water in the clouds.

Attenuation increases with decreasing temperature since the dielectric constant of water is inversely proportional to temperature. Ice clouds, however, attenuate less because of the low dielectric constant of ice. From: Introduction to Airborne Radar 2nd George W STIMSON