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Ground Wave Propagation

The document discusses three modes of electromagnetic wave propagation within Earth's atmosphere: ground wave propagation, sky wave propagation, and space wave propagation. Ground wave propagation involves waves traveling along the surface of the Earth, being affected by the Earth's electrical characteristics and diffraction. It is used for local radio communications up to frequencies of around 2 MHz. Key advantages are reliability and ability to communicate over long distances with enough power. Key disadvantages are high power requirements and limitation to low frequencies. Applications include radio navigation, ship-to-ship communication, and AM radio broadcasting.

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sophieee19
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2K views19 pages

Ground Wave Propagation

The document discusses three modes of electromagnetic wave propagation within Earth's atmosphere: ground wave propagation, sky wave propagation, and space wave propagation. Ground wave propagation involves waves traveling along the surface of the Earth, being affected by the Earth's electrical characteristics and diffraction. It is used for local radio communications up to frequencies of around 2 MHz. Key advantages are reliability and ability to communicate over long distances with enough power. Key disadvantages are high power requirements and limitation to low frequencies. Applications include radio navigation, ship-to-ship communication, and AM radio broadcasting.

Uploaded by

sophieee19
Copyright
© Attribution Non-Commercial (BY-NC)
We take content rights seriously. If you suspect this is your content, claim it here.
Available Formats
Download as PDF, TXT or read online on Scribd
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Modes of Wave Propagation

Outline
Modes of Wave Propagation Ground Wave Propagation Advantages Disadvantages Applications

Modes of Propagation
EM waves traveling within Earths atmosphere are called Terrestrial

waves.
Terrestrial waves are influenced by the atmosphere and Earth itself. There are three ways of propagating EM waves within Earths atmosphere Ground Wave or Surface Wave Space Wave or Troposheric Wave Sky Wave or Ionospheric Wave

Modes of Propagation

Modes of Propagation

Modes of Propagation
Symbol ELF ULF VLF LF MF HF VHF UHF SHF EHF Frequencyrange <300Hz 300Hz 3kHz 3kHz 30kHz 30 300kHz 300kHz 3MHz 3 30MHz 30 300MHz 300MHz 3GHz 3 30GHz 30 300GHz Wavelength, >1000km 1000 100km 100 10km 10 1km 1km 100m 100 10m 10 1m 1m 100mm 100 10mm 10 1mm Groundwavepropagation Ionospheric skywavepropagation Spacewaves,scatteringbyobjectssimilarly sizedto,orbiggerthan,afreespace wavelength,increasinglyaffectedby tropospheric phenomena Earthionospherewaveguidepropagation Comments

Ground Wave Propagation


Ground Waves travel along the surface of the Earth . Ground wave follows the contours of the Earth because of the process of diffraction. Ground Waves are affected by Earths electrical characteristics. Diffraction of the waves along the curvature of the Earth. Local weather conditions.

Ground Wave Propagation


Ground wave follows the contours of the Earth because of the process of diffraction.

Ground Wave Propagation


Ground waves must be vertically polarized. i.e. electric field vectors of EM waves are vertical with respect to ground. This is because the electric field in a horizontally polarized wave would be parallel to Earths surface and such waves would be short circuited by the conductivity of the ground. Ground waves are attenuated as they propagate over the Earths surface because of diffraction and tilt of wave fronts.

Ground Wave Propagation

Ground Wave Propagation


Ground waves propagate best over a surface that is a good conductor such as salt water and poorly over dry desert areas. Generally ground wave propagation is limited to frequencies below 2 MHz. Since ground wave losses increase rapidly with increase in frequency. Ground wave radio propagation is used to provide relatively local radio communications coverage, especially by radio broadcast stations that require to cover a particular locality.

Advantages
Given enough transmit power, ground waves can be used to communicate between any two locations in the world. Ground waves are relatively unaffected by changing atmospheric conditions. The ground wave provides a reliable 24 hours/day communications capability for frequencies up to about 2 to 3 MHz at a distance of several hundred miles maximum.

disadvantages
Ground waves require relatively high transmitter power. Ground waves are limited to LF (30 300 KHz) and MF (300 KHz 3 MHz) only. Ground losses are vary considerably with surface material.

Applications
It can be used for radio navigation, for ship-to-ship, ship-to-shore communication and maritime mobile communications. It can also be used in AM Radio broadcasting. For Military applications and Loran.

Applications

Ground Wave Field Strength


The field strength at a distance from the transmitting antenna due to ground wave has been calculated from the Maxwells equations as

Z o ht hr I E= d Z o is the free space impedance ht and hr are heights of Tx. and Rx. antennas I antenna current

Ground Wave Field Strength


The field strength at a distance from the transmitting antenna due to ground wave according to Somarfiled is given by

AE0 E = d
Where E = Field strength at a point, V/m Eo = Ground wave field strength at a unit distance from the transmitting antenna, neglecting earths losses V/m A = Earths attenuation factor d = distance of the point from Transmitting antenna

Ground Wave Field Strength


E0 = 30 P d
5

p 2 + 0.3 p p 8 A= sin b e 2 2 + p + 0.6 p 2

p =

D
f

cos b

b = ta n D

r +1 D f
10

= 1 .8 0 1 0

Ground Wave Field Strength


D f is known as dissipation factor of the dielectric
- Conductivity of the Earth (mho/m)
r - Relative Perm ittivity of the Earth

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