Ground wave propagation:

When the radio waves from the transmitting antenna propagate along the surface of the
earth so as to reach the receiving antenna, the wave propagation is called Ground Wave or surface
wave propagation"

Ground Wave propagation is a method of radio frequency propagation that uses the area between
the surface of the earth and the ionosphere for transmission. The ground wave can propagate a
considerable distance over the earth's surface particularly in the low frequency and medium
frequency portion of the radio spectrum. Ground wave radio propagation is used to provide relatively
local radio communications coverage.
Ground wave radio signal propagation is ideal for relatively short distance propagation on these
frequencies during the daytime. Sky-wave ionospheric propagation is not possible during the day
because of the attenuation of the signals on these frequencies caused by the D region in the
ionosphere. In view of this, lower frequency radio communications stations need to rely on the
ground-wave propagation to achieve their coverage.
Typically, what is referred to as a ground wave radio signal is made up of a number of constituent
waves. If the antennas are in the line of sight then there will be a direct wave as well as a reflected
signal. As the names suggest the direct signal is one that travels directly between the two antennas
and is not affected by the locality. There will also be a reflected signal as the transmission will be
reflected by a number of objects including the earth's surface and any hills, or large buildings that
may be present. In addition to this there is a surface wave. This tends to follow the curvature of the
Earth and enables coverage beyond the horizon. It is the sum of all these components that is known
as the ground wave. Beyond the horizon the direct and reflected waves are blocked by the curvature
of the Earth, and the signal is purely made up of the diffracted surface wave. It is for this reason that
surface wave is commonly called ground wave propagation.
As the wavefront of the ground wave travels along the Earth's surface it is attenuated. The degree of
attenuation is dependent upon a variety of factors. Frequency of the radio signal is one of the major
determining factor as losses rise with increasing frequency. As a result, it makes this form of
propagation impracticable above the bottom end of the HF portion of the spectrum (3 MHz).
Typically a signal at 3.0 MHz will suffer an attenuation that may be in the region of 20 to 60 dB more
than one at 0.5 MHz dependent upon a variety of factors in the signal path including the distance. In
view of this it can be seen why even high power HF radio broadcast stations may only be audible for
a few miles from the transmitting site via the ground wave.
Skywave propagation:
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 shortwavefrequency bands.
As a result of skywave propagation, a signal from a distant AM broadcasting station,
a shortwave station, orduring sporadic E propagation conditions (principally during the summer
months in both hemispheres) a distant VHF FM or TV station can sometimes be received as clearly
as local stations. Most long-distance shortwave (high frequency) radio communicationbetween 3
and 30 MHzis a result of skywave propagation.
VHF signals with frequencies above about 30 MHz usually penetrate the ionosphere and are not
returned to theFrequencies below approximately 10 MHz (wavelengths longer than 30 meters),
including broadcasts in the mediumwave and shortwave bands (and to some extent longwave),
propagate most efficiently by skywave at night. Frequencies above 10 MHz (wavelengths shorter
than 30 meters) typically propagate most efficiently during the day. Frequencies lower than 3 kHz
have a wavelength longer than the distance between the Earth and the ionosphere. The maximum
usable frequency for skywave propagation is strongly influenced by sunspot number.
Skywave propagation is usually degradedsometimes seriouslyduring geomagnetic storms.
Skywave propagation on the sunlit side of the Earth can be entirely disrupted during sudden
ionospheric disturbances.
Because the lower-altitude layers (the E-layer in particular) of the ionosphere largely disappear at
night, the refractive layer of the ionosphere is much higher above the surface of the Earth at night.
This leads to an increase in the "skip" or "hop" distance of the skywave at night.
Earth's surface.
Space wave propagation:
These waves occur within the lower 20 km of the atmosphere, and are comprised of a direct and
reflected wave. The radio waves having high frequencies are basically called as space waves.
These waves have the ability to propagate through atmosphere, from transmitter antenna to receiver
antenna. These waves can travel directly or can travel after reflecting from earths surface to the
troposphere surface of earth. So, it is also called as Tropospherical Propagation. In the diagram of
medium wave propagation, c shows the space wave propagation. Basically the technique of space
wave propagation is used in bands having very high frequencies. E.g. V.H.F. band, U.H.F band etc.
At such higher frequencies the other wave propagation techniques like sky wave propagation,
ground wave propagation cant work. Only space wave propagation is left which can handle
frequency waves of higher frequencies. The other name of space wave propagation is line of sight
propagation. There are some limitations of space wave propagation.

1. These waves are limited to the curvature of the earth.

2. These waves have line of sight propagation, means their propagation is along the line of
sight distance.
The line of sight distance is that exact distance at which both the sender and receiver antenna are in
sight of each other. So, from the above line it is clear that if we want to increase the transmission
distance then this can be done by simply extending the heights of both the sender as well as the
receiver antenna. This type of propagation is used basically in radar and television communication.
The frequency range for television signals is nearly 80 to 200 MHz. These waves are not reflected
by the ionosphere of the earth. The property of following the earths curvature is also missing in
these waves. So, for the propagation of television signal, geostationary satellites are used. The
satellites complete the task of reflecting television signals towards earth. If we need greater
transmission then we have to build extremely tall antennas.