Wave Propagation

Maxwell
Electric
waves

Magnetic

Electromagnetic

Travelling with Velocity of Light.

Hertz

Law of Rectilinear Propagation (Straight Line)

Antenna Signal:
It

Spreads in all Direction

Antenna Signal:

Decreasing Amplitude.

Path

The Path of Electromagnetic Waves Follows

depends on:

Atmospheric Conditions
Frequency of The Signal
Time of the day

Structure of Atmosphere:

Three Regions

Troposphere (10 to 20 Km)

Stratosphere (20 to 70 Km)
Ionosphere

(70 to 400 Km)

Frequency from 2 to 30 MHz

Cont

Radio Propagation Modes

Basic Paths:

Ground Wave

Sky Wave

Space Wave

Ground Wave Propagation:

Ground Wave Propagation:

Near the Earth Surface.

Possible

Classification:
1) Space Wave (or ) Direct Wave
2) Surface Wave

Up to 2 M Hz

The Ground waves are practical importance

at

Broad band
Low frequencies

Smooth And Rough

Surface:

If Earth is considered as a perfect conductor then the Tx and Rx

waves have Same Amplitude.

Smooth
The Phase and Amplitude of Tx wave is
Equal to the Rx wave.
Rough
The Phase and Amplitude of Tx wave is Not
equal to the Rx wave.

Rayleigh Criterion

The roughness and Smooth surface are

based on the Rayleigh Criterion.

4Sin
R

Where :
R = Measure of Roughness
Sin= Angle of incidence
= Wave length
= Standard deviation of surface irregularities from
surface height.

Depending on the value of R, the surface

can be considered as Smooth or Rough

If R is less than 0.1

Then the surface is considered as Smooth.

If R is Greater than 10
Then the surface is considered as Rough.

When the angle of incident is large then

Rough Surface approaches to Smooth Surface

Basically the earth is neither a perfect

conductor nor a perfect dielectric, so this
must be considered measuring the
reflection of earth surface.

Propagation and Characteristics

of EM Wave:

The Electric and Magnetic field components

are

Oscillates in Nature
Perpendicular to each other and
Perpendicular to the direction of
energy propagation (i.e.
Orthogonal)

Cont

Wave Tilt:

Wave Tilt is defined as the change of

orientation of the vertically polarized
ground wave of the earths surface.

Wave Tilt:

Wave Tilt:

Propagation Characteristics of
EM Wave:

Depending on Frequency:
The EM Waves are classified as

Radio Waves
Microwaves
Visible light
Ultra Violet Radiation
X-Rays
Gama Rays

Con..

Some of the significant Characteristics of

Electromagnetic Waves are

Speed
Wavelength
Frequency

Characteristics of Ground Wave

Propagation:

1)
Very much Useful at

Broad cast.
Lower Frequencies.
i.e. for Medium Waves, Long Waves, and Very Long Waves.

2) Polarization:

These waves are Vertically Polarized

Produced by Vertical Antenna

The Horizontal component

At Electric Field is short circuit, when it comes in contact
with the Earth

3) Placing of Antennas:
The Tx and Rx Antennas should be placed
closed to each other

4) Attenuation:
Due to

Earths curvature,
Surface irregularities,
Permittivity,
Conductivity
The Ground Wave Suffers from Attenuation.
The Attenuation increases with increase in Frequencys.
Hence below 2MHz is used for Ground Wave Propagation.

Cont

5) Energy Loos:

The wave looses its energy by absorption

while propagating over the Earths Surface.

Some times the Wave may be completely

lost.

6) Field Strength:

The Field Strength of the Wave Reduced as

the wave Propagates over the Earths
surface.

Sky Wave Propagation:

The Sky Wave Propagation is also called as

Ionospheric Wave Propagation.

This layer is Sub-divided into several layers as

D Layer
E Layer
F1 Layer
F2 Layer
G - Layer

Cont

Cont

D Layer: (70 Km-90Km)

D-Layer is nearest to the Earth Surface

This layer is only Visible in Day Time. (Its degree of Ionization depends on the Altitude
of the sun)

Ranges from 70-90 Km

The average thickness is about 10 Km

Electron Density is 1014 to 1016 per Cm3 at noon the Ionization

density is maximum.

It is also called Absorbing layer.

Critical Frequency is 2-3 MHz.

E Layer: (90 Km 140Km)

Mirror
This layer Behaves as Mirror that turns the EM waves towards the Earths Surface

Disappears
This layer Disappears at Night time (Due to lack of Sun Light ,the ions recombine into the
molecule during night)

Reflecting
The High Frequency signals are Reflected during the Day time is the main function of E Layer.

Electron Density
The Range of Electron density is 105 - 4.5x 105 (Day Time).
The Range of Electron density is 5 x 103 104 (Night Time).

Frequency Range:
Critical Frequency Range is 3- 5 MHz

F- Layer (140 Km-400Km)

This Region Breaks up into Two Layers

F1 Layer
F2 - Layer

Cont

F1- Layer: (140 Km-250

Km)

The average height of F1 Layer is 180 Km.

During the Day time its Thickness is

Approximately equal to 20 Km.

During the Night time F1 - Layer combines

with F2 Layer.

Frequency Range is from 5 to 7 MHz

Electron Density Range is from 2x105 to 4.5x105

F2 Layer: (250 Km
400Km)

For Radio Waves at High Frequencies, F2

layer acts as a medium of Reflection.

Electron Density is in the Range 3x105

2x106

Critical Frequency Range is 5-12 MHz

During day time it is located around 250-400 Km
above the Earths surface, During night time it
appears at a height of 300 Km

Sky Wave Propagation:

Mechanism of Reflection And

Refraction:

The Reflection and Refraction of the radio waves is the function of the
frequency of the wave.

The Three regions are

Low Frequency Region.
Higher Frequency Region.
Region Between Low Frequency and
High Frequency

1) Low Frequency Region:

Reflection and Refraction:

The value of Refractive index for

ionosphere is given by..

Where N =no of electrons per cubic meter or ionic

density
f = Frequency in Hz

Mechanism of Radio Wave

bending by the