Ionospheric Propagation of Radio Waves Gives Ham Radio Operators "Seven League Boots"!

Thanks to ionospheric propagation of radio waves, ham radio operators can rely on HF ionospheric radio signal propagation to communicate with fellow hams located way beyond the horizon.

The ionized layers of the ionosphere make HF radio wave propagation possible much beyond line of sight distances. These layers can be viewed as our "Seven League Boots" which, by leaps and rebounds, give our ham radio HF signals the ability to travel great distances!

This 11 year sunspot cycle graph illustrates the highs and lows of ionospheric propagation of radio waves.

(Source: https://www.spaceweatherlive.com/en/solar-activity/solar-cycle)

Ionospheric Propagation of Radio Waves in Action

The simplified drawing above illustrates how radio wave 'C' is refracted, by the ionized layer 'F', back toward the earth's surface, rebounds off the earth's surface a great distance away from its origin, goes upwards again as 'C1' to be refracted again by the 'F' layer and bounce off the earth further on  as 'C2' and so on.

The radio signals 'A' and 'B', arriving at the ionized 'F' layer at too steep an angle, will simply go through it and be lost in space.

The HF signals will gradually lose energy after each refraction by the 'F' layer and after each rebound off the earth's surface... until it is no longer discernible. But, by that time, it will have traveled thousands of miles and been heard by countless radio amateurs and shortwave listeners!

That's the magic of HF ionospheric radio signal propagation.

How Do Ionized Layers Form to Enable Ionospheric Propagation of Radio Waves

Ionization of the upper reaches of earth's atmosphere occurs when ultraviolet radiation from the sun collides with hydrogen and helium molecules that are few and far between up there. These collisions detach electrons from the gaseous molecules.

As a result, positive hydrogen and helium ions are generated and negatively charged free electrons are liberated from their nucleus. These regroup into ionized layers above the earth.

A pictorial diagram of the ionosphere layers responsible for ionospheric propagation of radio waves.

However, ionized layers only form when the sun is "active", which it is for about 9-10 years, every eleven years or so. It's commonly called the 11-year sunspot cycle.

We can see the progression of the last few sunspot cycles in the graph shown earlier. You can obtain more information on the 11-year cycle of sunspots here.

The Ionized Layers and Their Respective Role in HF Radio Wave Propagation

Ionized Layer 'D'

During the day, the ionized layer 'D' mostly hinders ionospheric propagation of radio waves.

It is the ionized layer closest to the earth's surface. It is located between 60 km and 100 km (37-62 miles) above the earth.

In the daytime, it forms under the sun's intense UV radiation and constitutes a barrier preventing amateur radio signals in the 40-meter, 80-meter and 160-meter bands from getting far and from being heard in the intense atmospheric noise.

Meanwhile, signals 10 MHz and above can get through to reach the ionized layers above and make their way beyond the horizon.

Ionized Layer 'E'

The 'E' layer lies between 90 km and 150 km (56-93 miles) above the earth but its most useful portion is located between 95 km and 120 km (59-75 miles) of altitude.

During daytime hours, in theory, layer 'E' could refract 5-20 MHz signals and help them along their way.

However, in reality, the 'D' layer (below) absorbs much of the energy of signals at these frequencies. Only signals in the 7-14 MHz range - transmitted near vertically - will be able to punch through the 'D' layer with enough remaining energy to reach the 'E' layer and be refracted along to reach as far as 1200 km (750 miles) at times.

That's where NVIS antennas come in handy.

The "Sporadic E" Layer

Sometimes, dense ionized clouds will form suddenly in the 'E' layer and disappear just as suddenly, minutes, rarely hours later.

Sporadic 'E' propagation (Es) is useful at frequencies above 28 MHz, in the VHF range, rarely below. We cover their usefulness in extending the reach of VHF signals beyond the horizon on another page of this website.

Both 'E' and 'Es' propagation contribute to 50 MHz activity.

Ionized Layer 'F1'

During daytime hours, in summer, this layer will often be useful to the propagation of HF radio signals of the 30-meter and 20-meter bands. Its role in the propagation of HF signals is rather negligible.

Ionized Layer 'F2'

The 'F2' layer forms during daytime hours between 200 km and 400 km (125-250 miles) above the earth. It is higher in altitude in the summer than it is in the winter.

It is usually around all year round.

At night, layers 'F1' and 'F2' merge into one 'F' layer, a little lower than the daytime 'F2' was located.

However, it will sometimes disappear completely for days on end during a deep solar cycle minimum!

The 'F2' layer will reach its highest density at the peak of a solar sunspot cycle.

It will then refract toward earth radio signals ranging from 7 MHz to 30 MHz and enable them to reach distances as far as 4000 km from their origin, rebound off the earth to rise again to the 'F2' layer... and repeatedly do so… sometimes to travel right around the earth and come back from behind their point of origin!

During the better nine years or so of a solar cycle, QRP operators (5 watts of radiated power or less), using simple dipoles, can make DX contacts as far and as often as the QRO operators (using up to 200 to 300 times more power) using a multi-element directional antenna!

During such wonderful periods, every ham radio operator has an equal chance under the sun to make DX contacts.

Ionospheric Propagation of Radio Waves is a Complex Topic

The information I have presented to you in this article is a very brief summary of what could be said about HF ionospheric radio signal propagation. I have really only scratched the surface!

Countless scientific publications have covered many aspects of the subject since the discovery of the ionosphere's existence and, later, its role in the propagation of HF radio signals.

Research is ongoing, involving and scientists and ham radio operators alike.

For more on our sun's behaviour, visit the Solar and Heliospheric Observatory (SOHO).

73 de VE2DPE
Claude Jollet
104-30 avenue des Berges,
Notre-Dame-des-Prairies, Québec, Canada J6E 1M9

QTH Locator: FN36gb