What causes HF propagation?
High Frequency (HF) propagation refers to the way radio waves travel through the atmosphere, allowing long-distance communication over the horizon. Several factors affect such propagation:
- Solar activity: The sun emits a range of electromagnetic radiation, including ultraviolet, X-rays, and charged particles. The EUV radiation ionizes the ionosphere, a layer of the Earth's atmosphere, affecting its density and height.
- The ionosphere: Radio waves can travel great distances by bouncing off the charged particles in the ionosphere. The height and density of free electrons have an impact on how radio waves travel.
- Time of day: The sun ionizes the ionosphere during the day, allowing communication over longer distances at higher frequencies. At night, the ionization level drops, enabling communication at lower frequencies.
- Space Weather conditions: Space Weather events, such as gemagnetic storms, can affect the ionosphere, causing disruptions to radio wave propagation.
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