How does it travel such long distances?
Shortwaves have a unique property in that they reflect (actually they refract) off a region in the earths upper atmosphere called the ionosphere. This charged region is formed by ultraviolet radiation from the sun. Shortwaves then bounce off the ionosphere and off the earths surface in a series of what is known as hops. This ability to travel by reflecting off the ionosphere is called shortwave propagation.
