Theory of propagation in a horizontally stratified atmosphere

Abstract

This chapter presents a development of the theory of propagation of very short electromagnetic waves in free space, over a plane earth, and over a spherical earth, including the effects of the electromagnetic properties of the earth and refraction by the atmosphere. In a sense it is two chapters, for it presents detailed specific results and methods for computation of field strength in the absence of refraction or with a linear modified index profile, as well as theory and a few numerical examples for certain types of nonlinear profiles. In order to prevent duplication and to preserve generality as much as possible, however, the presentation has been designed to adhere closely to fundamental electromagnetic theory, from which specific results are developed as special cases. Because of the mathematical complexity of even the simplest cases of nonstandard refraction of practical interest the numerical results for these cases are few.