Journal
Publication Date
Sep 05, 2025
Authors
Abstract
The idea of using terrestrial or satellite microwave links (SMLs) as opportunistic sensors (OSs) of rainfall is more than 15 years old, and the literature on the topic is vast. Many studies focused on rain detection and quantification from the data collected by the fronthauling and backhauling links of mobile networks, namely, commercial microwave links (CMLs). More recently, several researchers have also investigated the signals received by the ground terminals of TV-SAT or Internet of Things (IoT) satellitebased service subscribers, namely SMLs. CMLs and SMLs have different characteristics from those of conventional sensors (CSs) of rainfall; hence, they have the potential to complement measurements collected by rain gauges (RGs) or weather radars (WRs) as well as to provide unique data in the several areas of the globe where rainfall monitoring systems are scarce or completely missing. This paper proposes an author’s view on the future of rainfall measurements by CMLs and SMLs, which is closely tied to the evolution of wireless communication networks.