Reflections from the Earth's surface

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Abstract
The effects of reflection of waves from the earth's surface were discussed qualitatively in Sec. 2-2. In Sec. 2-11 formulas were given for the reflection coefficient and divergence factor in terms of the earth's electromagnetic properties and of the transmission-path geometry. In this chapter these quantities and their effect on the coverage diagram will be discussed further. Surface roughness will be shown to cause marked departures from the results predicted theoretically for a smooth surface; the extent of this departure is related to the size of the surface-roughness elements relative to wavelength and to the grazing angle. Reflections from the surface will be shown to limit accuracy of radar height measure ments at angles of elevation so small that the antenna illuminates the surface strongly and specular reflection from the surface is large.

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