Sky waves propagate by reflecting off the Earth's ionosphere.
Sky wave propagation is a method where electromagnetic waves transmitted by antennae reach receiving antennae after interacting with a specific layer of the atmosphere called the ionosphere.
The key to how sky waves propagate lies in the interaction with the ionosphere. The ionosphere is a region high above the Earth's surface containing ionized gases.
According to the reference, the ionosphere's entire internal reflection of the electromagnetic waves causes the skywaves to propagate.
This reflection allows the radio waves to travel back towards the Earth, covering significant distances, even beyond the visual horizon. It's like bouncing a signal off a mirror in the sky. This phenomenon is particularly effective for certain radio frequencies, such as those used in shortwave broadcasting.
By reflecting off the ionosphere, signals can bypass obstacles like mountains or the curvature of the Earth, making long-distance communication possible using this method.
