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Journal of Microwave Power
and Electromagnetic Energy (JMPEE) |
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TITLE |
Space-Borne High-Power Microwave Beam at 22.2 GHz (Water-Vapor Absorption Line) and its Potential for Atmospheric
Modifications [PDF] |
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AUTHORS |
M. D.
Gross and G. Colombo 1977 12 2 209-214 |
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Abstract The National Aeronautics and Space
Administration has been studying the feasibility of
orbiting a Space Solar Power Laboratory at synchronous heights. The
laboratory would be equipped with a 65 km˛ solar-cell array, a 2.3 GHz, 10 GW
transmitter, and a narrow-beam antenna. The steerable antenna beam can be oriented toward any region
of the earth's surface within line of sight with power density as high as 100
to 1000 Wm−˛ at the earth's surface. By retuning the transmitter to
22.2 GHz, a substantial amount of energy can be transferred to the atmosphere
via absorption by atmospheric water vapor, water
droplets from clouds, and rain droplets, as well as to the lossy terrain. These mechanisms have the potential of
causing substantial atmospheric weather modifications for example, the dissipation
of fog layers or the amelioration of severe atmospheric pollution. |
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