Modeling scintillation effects on free space optical links using radiosounding profile data

Wireless communications using free space optics (FSO) are sensitive to atmospheric conditions. Hydrometeors, but also clear-air turbulence, may introduce severe impairments reducing FSO channel availability. Yearly radiosounding profiles, available near Rome (Italy), are used to estimate the power scintillation index through a new physical turbulence structure constant model and to estimate scintillation fade statistics for near-infrared FSO.