skywave
Sign in to saveright|thumb|250px|Radio waves (black) Reflection (physics)|reflecting off the [[ionosphere (red) during skywave propagation. Line altitude in this image is significantly exaggerated and not to scale.]]
Article
12 sectionsContents
- Local and distant skywave propagation
- Low-angle skywaves
- Near-vertical skywaves
- Intermediate distance coverage
- Fading
- Other considerations
- History of discovery
- Marconi
- See also
- References
- Further reading
- External links
right|thumb|250px|Radio waves (black) Reflection (physics)|reflecting off the [[ionosphere (red) during skywave propagation. Line altitude in this image is significantly exaggerated and not to scale.]]
In radio communication, skywave or skip refers to the propagation of radio waves reflected or refracted back toward Earth from the ionosphere, an electrically charged layer of the upper atmosphere. Since it is not limited by the curvature of the Earth, skywave propagation can be used to communicate beyond the horizon, at intercontinental distances. It is mostly used in the shortwave frequency bands.