Tropospheric Influence on Ultra-High Frequency (UHF) Radio Waves

Abstract

This research investigates the effects of temperature and relative humidity on UHF signals. A spectrum analyzer was used in measuring UHF signals while a digital thermometer and hygrometer was used in measuring temperature and relative humidity, respectively. From results obtained, relative humidity had no significant effect on measured path loss while a positive correlation coefficient was obtained between temperature and measured path loss. This implies that an increase in temperature will lead to a decrease in received signal strength of UHF signals. Furthermore, a path loss propagation model for Calabar (PL = 37.920 + 2.796T + 0.290R + ) was obtained using multiple regression analysis and we believe that the obtained result will be useful to radio engineers for UHF signal propagation in the study terrain.