RAINFALL DETECTION AND RAINFALL INTENSITY MEASUREMENT BASED ON A SIMPLE SINGLE ANTENNA RECEIVER AT 12GHZ

Introduction: Pluviometric stations usually use mechanical processes to rainfall detection and measurement. Integration of electronic devices will improve these processes but, it continues being just a local detection and a local measurement. However, it is possible to use an antenna as a sensor for rainfall, covering large areas and simultaneously detect special rainfall directions. Purpose : So, the main goal of this work is to construct an antenna receiver system, for rainfall detection and measurement, and characterize it in terms of precision and accuracy. Methods: The system follows the radio astronomy principle. The prototype is able to pick up noise present in a certain amount of matter. With the antenna directed to free space, the rainfall would result in a noise to be received. A 12GHz commercial offset‑parabolic reflector was used and a LNB was connected to a simple signal meter, both connected to a satellite receiver to provide feed power. Rainfall was simulated with a hydraulic system, to evaluate, through the measured signal, if pluviosity causes the expected interference. Results : First of all, the system was able to detect rainfall in the line of sight of the antenna. The meter showed a 1.5dB power deviation when the particles of water fall. Increasing the water flux, the power deviation was higher than 3dB. Conclusion : It is possible to detect and also measured rainfall with a simple and not expensive system using the radio astronomy principle. With more results, a mathematical equation, relating signal power and rainfall intensity, will be defined.