What is the portion of the radiated wave that reaches the receiving antenna after being reflected from the surface of the earth?

The term "ground-reflected wave" accurately describes the portion of the radiated wave that reaches the receiving antenna after reflecting off the surface of the earth. This reflection can significantly influence communication systems, especially at lower frequencies where surface waves can travel long distances.

When a radio wave is transmitted, it can take different paths to reach the receiver. The ground-reflected wave specifically refers to those waves that, after being transmitted, interact with the earth's surface and then travel to the antenna. This path is crucial in understanding how radio signals propagate over distances and can affect the overall signal strength and quality.

The concept of ground waves involves waves that travel along the surface of the earth without necessarily reflecting off it, while the direct wave indicates the line-of-sight transmission path. The surface-reflected wave can be misleading because it does not encompass the totality of the immediate interactions with the ground; "ground-reflected wave" captures this specific phenomenon of reflection. Hence, recognizing the role of the ground-reflected wave is essential for analyzing radio wave behavior in various environments.