Measurements of VHF/UHF propagation characteristics over arctic paths

A series of measurements of VHF and UHF radiowave path loss were carried out near Inuvik and Resolute Bay, Northwest Territories, during 1976 and 1977. The transmitter sites were chosen to be representative of those that would be selected for actual communications facilities. Measurements of path loss, for various frequencies, polarizations, and transmitting and receiving antenna heights were made at a number of receiving sites along several radials from each transmitter. The path lengths ranged from 1-100 km and covered land, water, and mixed types of terrain. The measurement program is described, and empirical path loss models derived from the results are presented.