Scan Doc0068
Scan Doc0068
Scan Doc0068
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travel along the earth's surface much as though in awavcguidc. This is called super-refraction and'
propagation utilizing this super-refraction is called duct-propagation.
Duct propagation 'may increase the range of space wave communication two or three times the normal
line-of-sight (LOS) range.
2.18 Ionospheric propagation
This type of propagation is used in the short wave (high frequency) range. Under . favourable
circumstances, radio waves get bent downward dueto refraction from diffeent parts of the ionized
region and again reach the earth at a far distant point. Long distance communication is feasible through
the ionospheric or sky wave propagation.
In the ionosphere, D layer offers high day-time attenuation. E and FI layers are relatively stable and
F2 layer has greater seasonal variation. During night time FI and F2 layers merge to form one single
layer h.
2.19 Basic definitions
Virtual height: This is the height to which a short pulse of energy sent vertically upward and travelling
with the speed o~light would reach taking the same two way travel lime as does the actual pulse reflected
from the layer.
Virtual height is greater than the true height of the layer.
Critical frequency: This is the maximum frequency of an ionized layer that is reflected by the layer
at vertical incidence. This-is given by
le ~...r8TN; kHz
where N is the electron density of the layer in electrons /crn '.
Skip distance: This is the minimum distance from the transmitting antenna at which sky Wave of given
frequency is returned to earth by the ionosphere. The skip distance increases as frequency increases.
ionization in the layer reduces and height of layer increases.
Maximum Usable Frequency (MUF) : At fixed receiving, at any particular time, there is a maximum
frequency which may be used without letting the sky wave to skip over receiving point: This frequency
is called maximum usable frequency (MUF),
MUF =
le [(S/2h)2 - 1 ]1/2
where
le sec <PO,
S = skip distance
h