Ray-tracing and parabolic equation methods in the modeling of a tropospheric microwave link

An experimental tropospheric propagation system was operated for several years on a 50-km link in Ontario. The system provided information on the amplitude and angle-of-arrival of individual signal components under anomalous propagation conditions. Modeling of the observed activity can be attempted using various techniques and the use of ray-tracing and parabolic equation approaches are considered here in the light of the experimental measurements. Emphasis is placed on the latter which is capable of accurately including the effects of the ground in the model.