Investigating tropospheric radio refractivity variation with weather parameters in Kampala, Uganda: implications for communication systems

  • Authors

    • Musa Bawa Kampala International University
    • Afam Uzorka Kampala International University
    • Living Ounyesiga Kampala International University
    • Rabiu Tukur Department of Geography, Faculty of Arts and Social Sciences, Islamic University in Uganda, Main Campus Mbale, Uganda
    2024-11-21
    https://doi.org/10.14419/10qp7q48
  • Tropospheric Radio Refractivity; Weather Parameters; Communication Systems.

  • Abstract

    The tropospheric radio refractivity plays an important role in the propagation of radio waves and significantly affecting the performance of radio communication systems. This study aims to investigate the influence of weather parameters on tropospheric radio refractivity variation and the implication for communication system in Kampala, Uganda. Through a comprehensive dataset of temperature, humidity and pressure obtained from the National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA) archives for Kampala over a period of one year (January 2023 to December 2023). Using the International Telecommunication Model (ITU-R model), radio refractivity was computed from the collected weather parameters, and subsequently correlate with weather parameters. The analyses of the results showed that, radio refractivity displayed seasonal variability with high values in the wet season with a peaks points observed in April and October (339N and 338N) and a low value during dry season, July and January (328N and 324). It was also observed that the Relative humidity and Temperature are the main force driven the variations of radio refractivity. Hence, the work could be used for rapid and precise estimation of link budgets while planning and designing radio links budget in Kampala and regions of similar climatic characteristics.

     

  • References

    1. M. G. Hamza, L. A. Latiff, E. M. Mustafa, and W. M. Gasim, “Radio propagation and troposphere parameters effect for Microwave links in Sudan,” Proc. - 2017 Int. Conf. Commun. Control. Comput. Electron. Eng. ICCCCEE 2017, pp. 0–4, 2017, doi: 10.1109/ICCCCEE.2017.7867670.
    2. R. Mat, N. H. Sabri, R. Umar, and S. Ahmad, “Effect of Humidity on Tropospheric Received Signal Strength ( RSS ) in Ultra-High Fre-quency ( UHF ) Band Effect of Humidity on Tropospheric Received Signal Strength ( RSS ) in Ultra-High Frequency ( UHF ) Band,” 2020, doi: 10.1088/1742-6596/1529/4/042048.
    3. A. T. Adediji, M. O. Ajewole, and S. E. Falodun, “Distribution of radio refractivity gradient and effective earth radius factor (k-factor) over Akure, South Western Nigeria,” J. Atmos. Solar-Terrestrial Phys., vol. 73, no. 16, pp. 2300–2304, 2011, doi: 10.1016/j.jastp.2011.06.017.
    4. M. M. Tanko, M. S. Liman, W. L. Lumbi, U. S. Aliyu, and M. U. Sarki, “Field Strength Variability Mapping of Nigeria,” J. Niger. Soc. Phys. Sci., vol. 4, no. 3, pp. 1–6, 2022, doi: 10.46481/jnsps.2022.746.
    5. K. O. Suleman, S. B. Suleiman, L. A. Sunmonu, and A. L. Sheu, “Estimation of Refractivity Gradients and Effective Earth Radius Fac-tor ( K-Factor ) In the Lowest 100 m of the Atmosphere over Ogbomoso , South western Nigeria,” J. Eng. Technol. Ind. Appl., vol. 10, no. 46, pp. 27–32, 2024.
    6. K. E. Ukhurebor, O. S. Akinola, and W. Nwankwo, “Evaluation of the Effects of some Weather Variables on UHF and VHF Receivers within Benin City , South-South Region of Nigeria Evaluation of the Effects of some Weather Variables on UHF and VHF Receivers within Benin City , South-South Region of Nigeria,” J. Phys. Conf. Ser. Pap., no. August, 2019, doi: 10.1088/1742-6596/1299/1/012052.
    7. B. G. Ayantunji, F. D. Chizea, B. Musa, and A. S. Adewumi, “An Empirical Analysis of Atmospheric Radio Refractivity Effect on Sig-nal Quality at UHF Band in a Tropical Environment,” Int. J. Appl. Phys. (SSRG- IJAP), vol. 6, no. 1, pp. 7–16, 2019.
    8. Sa’adu, L., Bawa, M., and Bello, M., “A Review on the Effects of Radio Refractivity and Atmospheric Parameters on Signal Quality at Ultra High Frequency (UHF),” Int. J. Sci. Glob. Sustain., vol. 6, no. 2, p. 9, 2020, doi: 10.57233/ijsgs.v6i2.112.
    9. Uganda National Meteorological Authority., Climate of Uganda. 2020.
    10. A. T. Adediji, M. Ismail, and J. S. Mandeep, “Variation of radio fi eld strength and radio horizon distance over three stations in Nigeria,” J. Atmos. Solar-Terrestrial Phys., vol. 109, pp. 1–6, 2013, doi: 10.1016/j.jastp.2013.12.006.
    11. S. Ali, S. A. Malik, K. S. Alimgeer, S. A. Khan, and R. L. Ali, “Statistical estimation of tropospheric radio refractivity derived from 10 years meteorological data,” J. Atmos. Solar-Terrestrial Phys., vol. 77, pp. 96–103, 2012, doi: 10.1016/j.jastp.2011.12.001.
    12. B. G. Ayantunji, P. N. Okeke, and J. O. Urama, “Seasonal variation of surface refractivity over Nigeria,” Adv. Sp. Res., vol. 48, no. 12, pp. 2023–2027, 2011, doi: 10.1016/j.asr.2011.08.025.
    13. G. S. M. Bawa, M., Galadanci, B. G. Ayantunji, M. T. Muhammad, and I. Umar, “Variation Of Meteorological Parameters And Its Ef-fect On Refractive Index Of Air Over Lagos Nigeria,” Bayero J. Pure Appl. Sci., vol. 10, no. 2, pp. 222–225, 2017.
    14. and M. M. . Musa, B., Galadanci G.S.M, Ayantunji B.G, Mai-Unguwa H, “Study of Average Seasonal Variations of Surface Radio Re-fractivity Across Some Selected Cities In Nigeria,” Bayero J. Pure Appl. Sci., vol. 10, no. 2, pp. 251–255, 2017.
    15. O. S. Macaulay and E. K. Makama, “Characteristics of Tropospheric Scintilation for Satellite Applications In Jos,” IEEE Xplore, no. September, pp. 5–8, 2020.
    16. A. A. Segun, A. M. Olusope, and A. H. Kofoworola, “Influence of Air Temperature, Relative Humidity and Atmospheric Moisture on UHF Radio Propagation in South Western Nigeria,” 2013. [Online]. Available: www.ijsr.net
    17. Z. Akpootu, D. O., 1Aminu, M. Nouhou, I., Yusuf, A., Idris, and O. E. Aliyu, M. A. Salifu, S. I., Kola, T. A and Agidi, “Assessment of Tropospheric Radio Refractivity and Its Variation with Climatic Variables Over Zaria , Nigeria,” Dutse J. Pure Appl. Sci. (DUJOPAS), vol. 10, no. 1, pp. 243–255, 2024.
    18. D. O. Akpootu et al., “Performance Analysis of Tropospheric Radio Refractivity on Radio Field Strength and Radio Horizon Distance and Its Variation with Meteorological Parameters over Osogbo, Nigeria,” Int. J. Adv. Sci. Res. Eng., vol. 05, no. 10, pp. 81–97, 2019, doi: 10.31695/ijasre.2019.33545.
    19. A. A. Segun, A. D. Kehinde, and A. A. Adebambo, “Analysis of Radio Refractivity Variations Across Geographical Coordinates of Ni-geria,” J. Inf. Eng. Appl., vol. 8, no. 3, pp. 1–6, 2018.
    20. D. O. A. and M. I. Iliyasu, “Estimation of Tropospheric Radio Refractivity and Its Variation with Meteorological Parameters over Ikeja , Nigeria,” J. Geogr. Environ. Earth Sci. Int., no. January 2017, 2019, doi: 10.9734/JGEESI/2017/32534.
    21. ITU – R., “The refractive index: its formula and refractivity data,” in Recommendation 203/1, 2015, pp. 253–9.
    22. H. Zell, “Earth’s Atmospheric Layers,” NASA.
    23. H. Chang, “’Theory, Measurement, and Absolute Temperature,” in Measurement and Scientific Progress, Online., New York, 2004, pp. 159–219. doi: https://doi.org/10.1093/0195171276.003.0004.
    24. Sizum H., Radio wave propagation for communication applications. 1997.
    25. S. E. Schulze, “South African atlas of Agrohydrology and Climatology,” pp. 16–22, 1997.
    26. K. A. Hughes, “Radio Propagation Data from Tropical Regions,” in A Brief Review of a seminar on Radio Propagation in Tropical Re-gions, 1993.
    27. B. Musa, B. G. Ayantunji, G. S. M. Galadanchi, and S. Idris, “Study of Average Hourly Variations of Radio Refractivity Variations across Some Selected Cities in Nigeria,” J. Appl. Phys., vol. 7, no. 6, pp. 37–43, 2015, doi: 10.9790/4861-07613743.
    28. A. T. Adediji and M. O. Ajewole, “Journal of Atmospheric and Solar-Terrestrial Physics Microwave anomalous propagation ( AP ) measurement over Akure South-Western Nigeria,” J. Atmos. Solar-Terrestrial Phys., vol. 72, no. 5–6, pp. 550–555, 2010, doi: 10.1016/j.jastp.2010.02.008.
    29. A. A. Willoughby, T. O. Aro, and I. E. Owolabi, “Seasonal variations of radio refractivity gradients in Nigeria,” J. Atmos. Solar-Terrestrial Phys., vol. 64, pp. 417–425, 2002.
    30. B. G. Ayantunji, B. Musa, L. A. Sunmonu, A. S. Adewumi, L. Sa, and A. Kado, “Atmospheric Humidity and Its Implication on UHF Signal over Gusau, North West, Nigeria,” Int. J. Sci. Eng. Res., vol. 9, no. 3, pp. 599–611, 2018.
    31. J. Amajama, “Impact of Weather Components on (UHF) Radio Signal,” Int. J. Eng. Res. Gen. Sci. ·, vol. 4, no. 3, pp. 481–495, 2016, [Online]. Available: https://www.researchgate.net/publication/303882242

  • Downloads

  • How to Cite

    Bawa, M. ., Afam Uzorka, Living Ounyesiga, & Tukur, R. . (2024). Investigating tropospheric radio refractivity variation with weather parameters in Kampala, Uganda: implications for communication systems. International Journal of Physical Research, 12(2), 116-122. https://doi.org/10.14419/10qp7q48