Electromagnetic Propagation at Frequencies above 50 GHz: the Challenge of the Atmosphere

This contribution is intended to provide a preliminary quantification of the expected atmospheric impairments suffered from a radio wave at frequency above 50 GHz, as it could be theoretically derived by extrapolating the present theoretical and experimental knowledge. We have addressed the role of gases, clouds, scintillation and rain (with emphasis also on the impact of the hydrometeor size distribution) on the attenuation level, the melting layer characteristics and the depolarization of the electromagnetic waves travelling through the atmosphere.