Radio Wave Propagation Prediction in Atmospheric Ducting Environments

In atmospheric ducting environments, radio wave propagation is significantly influenced by various factors such as weather conditions, terrain features, and atmospheric refraction. Accurate prediction of wave propagation under these conditions is crucial for reliable communication systems. The parabolic equation (PE) method provides an effective numerical approach for modeling wave propagation in tropospheric ducting scenarios. The MATLAB implementation pe_tropos_ducting.m employs this computational model to simulate electromagnetic wave behavior through solving the parabolic wave equation, which approximates the full wave equation for forward propagation. This program incorporates key algorithmic components including: terrain profile handling, atmospheric refractivity modeling, and numerical solution of the parabolic equation using split-step Fourier transform methods. The code features functions for duct height calculation, propagation loss computation, and visualization of field strength distributions, enabling comprehensive analysis of radio wave propagation effects in complex atmospheric conditions.