Effects of lower sampling interval on rainfall queue characteristics over radio links in South Africa

Godfrey N. Mazibuko, Thomas J. Afullo, Akintunde A. Alonge

Research output: Chapter in Book/Report/Conference proceedingConference contributionpeer-review

Abstract

Rain attenuation is a major problem on millimeter wave propagation especially around subtropical, tropical and equatorial regions in Africa. Previous research has determined that rainfall characteristics over sub-tropical and equatorial regions in Africa are essentially a queue process following an M/Ek/s/∞/FCFS queue discipline. Rainfall measurements consisting of 2000 observable rain spikes were retrieved from the disdrometer for the investigation of the queue parameters at 30-second sampling time in Durban (29°52'S, 30°58'E). The retrieved rainfall data is classified into four rain rate regimes namely: drizzle, shower, widespread and thunderstorm. Queue parameters required for rainfall traffic analysis - such as inter-arrival time and service time - are empirically determined to be Erlang-k distributed, whereas overlap time is Exponentially distributed. It is thus established that the queue discipline for the rainfall spikes over millimeter wave is Ek/Ek/s/∞/FCFS. Conclusively, rainfall events at 30-second and one-minute sampling behave as a semi-Markovian process. In this light, lower sampling time gives accurate results, since we see more rainfall spikes on the 30-second queue parameters.

Original languageEnglish
Title of host publication2017 IEEE AFRICON
Subtitle of host publicationScience, Technology and Innovation for Africa, AFRICON 2017
EditorsDarryn R. Cornish
PublisherInstitute of Electrical and Electronics Engineers Inc.
Pages227-231
Number of pages5
ISBN (Electronic)9781538627754
DOIs
Publication statusPublished - 3 Nov 2017
Externally publishedYes
EventIEEE AFRICON 2017 - Cape Town, South Africa
Duration: 18 Sept 201720 Sept 2017

Publication series

Name2017 IEEE AFRICON: Science, Technology and Innovation for Africa, AFRICON 2017

Conference

ConferenceIEEE AFRICON 2017
Country/TerritorySouth Africa
CityCape Town
Period18/09/1720/09/17

Keywords

  • Attenuation
  • Rainfall rate
  • Sampling time
  • Spike

ASJC Scopus subject areas

  • Human-Computer Interaction
  • Signal Processing
  • Computer Vision and Pattern Recognition
  • Artificial Intelligence
  • Computer Networks and Communications
  • Computer Science Applications

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