Characterization of microwave fading over coastal cities of Nigeria

Atmospheric meteorological parameters (relative humidity, atmospheric pressure, and temperature) are unique due to the constant difference between them. This paper characterizes the fading associated with the microwave radio signals based on 10 years (2006 to 2015) re-analyzed data at 00 hours local time (LT), 06 hours LT, Noonday, and 18 hrs LT (synopsis hours) over seven (7) Coastal cities in Nigeria (Port-Harcourt, Warri, Calabar, Arogbo, Oron, Yenagoa and Lagos Island). The reanalysis data was obtained from the European Center for Medium-Range Weather Forecasts (ECMWF) at a resolution of 0.25 by 0.25 resolutions in the selected cities. Radio Refractivity (RR), Radio Refractivity Gradient (RRG), Point Radio Refractivity (PRR), and Geoclimatic Factor (GF) are obtained from the data. Fade Depth Percentages Exceedance (FDPE) that occurred at the study locations were deduced to determine the level of signal degradation at the microwave radio links over the coastal regions of Nigeria.