which layer of the atmosphere makes radio communication possible ?
The layer of the atmosphere that is responsible for enabling radio communication is known as the ionosphere. The ionosphere is a part of the Earth's upper atmosphere, approximately 80 to 600 kilometers (50 to 375 miles) above the surface. It is called the ionosphere because it contains ionized particles, or ions, which are formed by the interaction of solar radiation with the gas molecules in the atmosphere.
To understand how the ionosphere enables radio communication, we need to consider the properties of radio waves. Radio waves are a type of electromagnetic radiation used for wireless communication. They have different frequencies, and each frequency behaves differently when it encounters the atmosphere.
When radio waves encounter the ionosphere, they can interact with the ionized particles present in this region. The ionosphere acts as a reflecting medium for radio waves, like a mirror. This property allows the radio waves to be reflected back towards the Earth's surface, even if the transmitting and receiving antennas are not in direct line of sight. This phenomenon is known as skywave propagation.
Specifically, the ionosphere's layer called the F layer, which is located around 150 to 600 kilometers (90 to 375 miles) above the Earth's surface, is primarily responsible for long-distance radio communication. The F layer is further divided into two sub-layers called F1 and F2. The F2 layer is the most important for radio communication because it reflects a wide range of radio frequencies.
So, to summarize, it is the ionosphere, particularly the F2 layer, that makes radio communication possible by reflecting radio waves back to Earth over long distances.