Performance analysis and investigation of optimum link distance for point-to-point free space optical link in different weather conditions

Free space optical (FSO) communication is an emerging technology which uses modulated optical beams to establish broadband wireless data transmission. The adoption of FSO system is mainly needed when no physical connection between the transmitter and receiver is practically possible and where high bandwidth data transmission is required. The performance of FSO communication technology is strongly affected by atmospheric attenuation which is related to the visibility of the different weather conditions. This paper presents our study about the effect of visibility on atmospheric attenuation in different weather conditions. Moreover, it also discusses the methodology to find out the optimum link distance for point-to-point FSO link which will be operated in different weather conditions. It is found that, atmospheric attenuation is changed with the change in weather and the attenuation is inversely proportional to the visibility. It is also obtained that the optimum distance for point-to-point FSO link is about 400 m.