lightning. This use of thunderstorm information should serve as a general "proxy" variable until more detailed research into this phenomenon is completed. The basic information was obtained from the NOAA document titled "Climates of The United States," and was extrapolated by Dr. Few for the project team. Spatial Coverage: 6118 grid cells are indicated as being subject to thunderstorms. R. SHEET RAINFALL - FIGURE 23 Rationale: The possibility exists that heavy rainfalls can produce rain sheeting on the rectenna face, shielding the rectenna from microwaves. This is true of the Marshall Design Type and other designs are also susceptible to this phenomena. The extent to which this factor is considered in the reference design is not clear, but this factor does need to be considered. For this reason, this variable is considered as a potential exclusion variable. Reliability of the Data: The areas mapped in Figure 23 are interpreted from a map in the NOAA document titled "Climatic Atlas of the United States". This map specified mean annual precipitation in terms of million gallons of water per square mile. Those areas exhibiting a mean annual precipitation greater than 700 million gallons per square mile are shown in Figure 23. This data is based upon extrapolations of recording data stations and is considered reliable. Spatial Coverage: 3472 grid cells are indicated as being subject to sheet rainfall. S. ACID RAIN - FIGURE 24 Rationale: The presence of a low pH in rainfall is a design criteria that should be incorporated into materials specifications for rectennas being constructed in these areas. To the extent that acid
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