Polarization Loss

Polarization loss in satellite communications is the reduction in received signal power that occurs when the polarization of a received electromagnetic wave is misaligned with the polarization of the receiving antenna. This loss can result from rotation or distortion of the signal’s polarization as it propagates through the Earth’s atmosphere, particularly due to ionospheric effects, rain, and other propagation impairments.

Polarization loss may also arise from imperfect antenna alignment or depolarization caused by scattering and reflection. The magnitude of the loss depends on the degree of polarization mismatch between the transmitted and received signals and can significantly affect link performance, especially in systems employing polarization-based frequency re-use.