Do Sunspots have an Effect on High Frequency Radio Wave Propagation?
Abstract The maximum usable frequency is the maximum frequency at which a radio wave can be transmitted at without it passing through the Earth’s ionosphere. The object is for the radio wave to travel as far as possible before being bounced back to the ground by the ionosphere. If a radio wave is too high in frequency, it possesses too much energy to be reflected by the Earth’s ionosphere and will therefore continue on its path out into space. Sunspots are active places on the sun’s surface that create a stream of ionized particles that flow out in to the solar system which is known as the solar wind. These charged particles pass over Earth’s ionosphere and transfer their charge over. The ionosphere has a direct effect on the maximum usable frequency.
