Radio Wave Propagation in the Earth and Space Environment
(3-0-0-3)
CMPE Degree: This course is Not Applicable for the CMPE degree.
EE Degree: This course is Not Applicable for the EE degree.
Lab Hours: 0 supervised lab hours and 0 unsupervised lab hours.
Technical Interest Group(s) / Course Type(s): Electromagnetics
Course Coordinator: Morris B Cohen
Prerequisites: ECE3025 and (ECE4350 or ECE4370 or ECE4390)
Corequisites: None.
Catalog Description
How the Earth's atmosphere, space plasma environment, and solar space weather, vary to affect communication, navigation, space science, and remote sensing, across the electromagnetic spectrum.Textbook(s)
Course Outcomes
Not Applicable
Student Outcomes
In the parentheses for each Student Outcome:"P" for primary indicates the outcome is a major focus of the entire course.
“M” for moderate indicates the outcome is the focus of at least one component of the course, but not majority of course material.
“LN” for “little to none” indicates that the course does not contribute significantly to this outcome.
1. ( Not Applicable ) An ability to identify, formulate, and solve complex engineering problems by applying principles of engineering, science, and mathematics
2. ( Not Applicable ) An ability to apply engineering design to produce solutions that meet specified needs with consideration of public health, safety, and welfare, as well as global, cultural, social, environmental, and economic factors
3. ( Not Applicable ) An ability to communicate effectively with a range of audiences
4. ( Not Applicable ) An ability to recognize ethical and professional responsibilities in engineering situations and make informed judgments, which must consider the impact of engineering solutions in global, economic, environmental, and societal contexts
5. ( Not Applicable ) An ability to function effectively on a team whose members together provide leadership, create a collaborative and inclusive environment, establish goals, plan tasks, and meet objectives
6. ( Not Applicable ) An ability to develop and conduct appropriate experimentation, analyze and interpret data, and use engineering judgment to draw conclusions
7. ( Not Applicable ) An ability to acquire and apply new knowledge as needed, using appropriate learning strategies.
Strategic Performance Indicators (SPIs)
Outcome 1 (Students will demonstrate expertise in a subfield of study chosen from the fields of electrical engineering or computer engineering):
1. Analyze the paths of radio waves in the Earth's atmosphere
2. Calculate the paths of radio waves in the Earth's space environment
3. Quantify the ability to detect radio waves for communications, navigation, and remote sensing
Outcome 2 (Students will demonstrate the ability to identify and formulate advanced problems and apply knowledge of mathematics and science to solve those problems):
1. Write and present a report with a team analyzing an existing engineering application where radio wave propagation in the atmosphere of space plasma physics plays a significant role
Outcome 3 (Students will demonstrate the ability to utilize current knowledge, technology, or techniques within their chosen subfield):
1. Explain the role of space weather in impacting radio wave propagation
Course Objectives
Topical Outline
Review of electromagnetics
Atmospheric propagation
Ground reflection
Atmospheric refraction
Atmospheric absorption
The ground wave
Earth diffraction
Terrain effects
Multipath and fading
The sky wave
Plasma physics and the ionosphere
Satellite-to-ground signals
HF propagation
Tropospheric and meteor impacts
Impacts on radar systems
Longwave propagation
The space environment
Solar physics and the near-Earth space environment
Space weather and impacts on engineering systems (radar, GPS, satellites, power grid)
Radiation belts and particle motion