Statistics of tropospheric amplitude scintillation over selected locations in tropical Nigeria

Tropospheric scintillation depends signifcantly on any location’s prevailing weather condition, and its variation must be statistically analyzed to ensure accurate fade margin determination. This study examines the distribution of Ku-band amplitude scintillation across selected locations in tropical Nigeria. Eight years of daily averaged data of surface temperature and relative humidity were employed for computing scintillation intensity (σ) and amplitude (χ) using international telecommunications union recommended model across eighteen (18) stations, that are subdivided into four (4) regions and spread over tropical Nigeria. The data, spanning January 2010 to December 2017, were obtained from the archive of the European center for medium-range weather forecasts (ECMWF) with a resolution of 0.125° by 0.125°. Three (3) years of in-situ data of concurrently measured satellite radio beacons and primary radio-climatic parameters at Akure (7° 17′ N, 5° 18′ E, 358 m), South-west Nigeria, were employed for comparison and validation. Statistical analyses involving time series, probability density, and cumulative distribution functions were performed on the scintillation dataset annually. Results indicate that the magnitude of tropospheric amplitude scintillation varies across diferent locations; nevertheless, it exhibits a similar distribution pattern characterized by the generalized extreme value (GEV) probability density function (pdf). The study has shown the need to incorporate the scintillation component into the fade mitigation architecture of telecommunication systems in tropical Nigeria while considering its regional variability. Also, experimental validation of the observations raised in this study should be encouraged at all the locations for better prediction accuracy.