Free space optical (FSO) systems have become a reliable solution for modern communications networks, due to the high performance, availability, reliability and security they can provide. However, their characteristics depend strongly on the conditions of the atmosphere, which is the propagation path of the optical beam. In this work, this dependence is experimentally investigated through a terrestrial horizontal FSO link, which was installed a few meters above the sea. Thus, the procedure presented hereis an accurate empirical model for the estimation of the attenuation coefficient for an optical wireless link, as a function of the atmospheric temperature, the relative humidity, and the wind speed. Its accuracy is verified by comparing the estimated outcomes—obtained from the empirical model—versus the measured—experimental—ones. Such accurate empirical models can be used for designing high performance and reliability FSO links, as parts of the upcoming 5G/5G+ networks, for areas where the behavior of the atmospheric conditions and parameters are known.
