Electromagnetic waves 

are formed when an 1. Radio waves

electric field couples with a magnetic field Wavelength range: 0.3m to
in which these fields are perpendicular to 600nm
each other and to the direction of the wave. Source:   accelerated charged
They are consisting of oscillating electric particles in a conducting wire or
and magnetic fields in certain directions changing electric current in LC
circuit.
which propagates through free space at the
Uses:    mainly used in radio and
speed of light. Unlike sound or waves on a
television communication.
string, EM waves do NOT require a medium 2. Microwaves
to travel. EM Waves are made by vibrating Wavelength range:  0.1m to 1
electric charges and can travel through space mm
by transferring energy between vibrating Source:  oscillating electrons in
electric and magnetic fields. a cavity commonly used
oscillators to produce micro
waves are klystron, magnetron
gunn diodes.
Uses:
used in radar systems for aircraft
navigation.
Used for atomic and molecular
research.
3. Infrared
As mentioned above, EM waves consist of Wavelength range: 1mm to 700
two primary components - an ELECTRIC nm
FIELD and a MAGNETIC FIELD. Electric Source:   hot bodies(vibrations
field results from the force of voltage, and of atoms/molecules)
the magnetic field results from the flow of Uses:
current. It was debated throughout time that these waves can pass through the
although electromagnetic fields that are haze, fog and mist, so they are
radiated are commonly considered waves, used in night vision devices
they also have some properties of particles.  during warfare.
There are various types of electromagnetic Infrared detectors are used by
energy and they only differ in frequency - earth satellites.
rate of vibration. Spectrum is the term used
to designate the entire range of EM waves 4. Visible Light
arranged in order of their frequencies.  Wavelength range: 400 nm to
780 nm
Source:  jumping of electron
from higher orbit to lower orbit
of an atom
Uses: it stimulates the sense of
sight in human beings, so the
beautiful world around us is seen
the presence of visible light.
5. Ultraviolet Waves
Wavelength range:  400 nm to
0.6 nm
Source: the sun, welding arc,
high voltage gas discharge tube.
Uses:
they are used to preserve food
stuff and make drinking water
free from bacteria.
Used for sterilizing the surgical
instruments.
6. X-Rays
Wavelength range: 10 nm to 10
-4 nm
Source: fast moving electrons
striking a target of high atomic
number.
Uses:
used in medical diagnosis
In radio therapy to cure skin
diseases, cancers and tumors.
In engineering for locating faults
or cracks in metallic materials.
7. Gamma Rays
Wavelength range: 10 -10 m to
10 -14 m
Source: radioactive decay of
nuclei and nuclear reactions.
Uses:
used for treatment of cancer.
To examine the thick materials
for structural flaws.
For food preservation.
The Electromagnetic Spectrum is a
complete range of electromagnetic
frequencies. The frequencies falling
between 3 kHz and 300 GHz are 1.2 Modes of Wave Propagation
called radio frequencies. This is There are two principal ways in which
divided into bands, each band being electromagnetic (radio) energy travels from
10 times higher in frequency that the a transmitting antenna to a receiving
one immediately below it.  antenna. One way is through GROUND
WAVE and the other is through SKY
WAVE
propagation. 

SKY WAVE PROPAGATION

Sky wave propagation, sometimes called as
ionospheric wave, is radiated in an upward
direction and returned to Earth at some
distant location because of refraction from
the ionosphere. This type of propagation is
Ground wave propagation is composed of
relatively unaffected by the Earth's surface
two separate component waves. The first
and can propagate signals over great
one is called SURFACE WAVE, and the
distances. Usually, high frequency band is
other is called SPACE WAVE. In simplest
used.
terms, a surface wave travels along the
surface of the Earth; and the space wave
travels over the surface. 
Surface Wave
Surface wave reaches the receiving site by
traveling along the surface of the ground. A
surface wave can follow the contours of the
Earth because of the process of diffraction.
When a surface wave meets an object and
the dimensions of the object do not exceed
its wavelength, the wave tends to curve or
bend around the object. The relative 1.3 Effect of Earth's Atmosphere
conductivity of various surfaces is shown in
the table below.  Weather is an additional factor that affects
the propagation of radio waves. Wind, air
temperature, and water content of the
atmosphere can combine in many ways.
these conditions greatly affect radio signals
during communications. The discussion
mainly focuses on the effects of weather on
radio waves. 

Space Wave Precipitation Attenuation

The space wave follows two distinct paths There are a lot of forms of precipitation -
from the transmitting antenna to the rain, snow, fog, etc. This greatly affect in
receiving antenna - one through the air communications; since, attenuation because
directly to the receiving antenna, the other of precipitation is proportional to the
reflected from the ground to the receiving frequency and wavelength of the radio wave.
antenna. 
For example, rain has a pronounced effect snow is limited, scientists assume that
on waves at microwave frequencies.  attenuation from snow is less than from rain
falling at an equal rate. This assumption is
  borne out by the fact that the density of rain
Rain is eight times the density of snow. As a
result, rain falling at 1 inch per hour would
Attenuation because of raindrops is greater have more water per cubic inch than snow
than attenuation because of other forms of falling at the same rate. 
precipitation. Attenuation may be caused by
absorption, in which the raindrop, acting as a Hail 
poor dielectric, absorbs Attenuation by hail is determined by the size
power from the radio wave and dissipates of the stones and their density.
the power by heat loss or by scattering
Attenuation of radio waves by scattering
because of hailstones is considerably less
than by rain.
 

Now, if you want further discussion Temperature Inversion

regarding electromagnetic wave Under normal atmospheric conditions, the
propagation, visit the Instructional Materials warmest air is found near the surface of the
posted in the module outline.  Earth.
The air gradually becomes cooler as altitude
Fog increases. At times, however, an unusual
situation develops in which layers of warm
In the discussion of attenuation, fog may be air are formed above layers of cool air. This
considered as another form of rain. Since condition is known as TEMPERATURE
fog remains suspended in the atmosphere, INVERSION.
the attenuation is determined by the quantity
of water per unit volume and by the size of
the droplets. Attenuation because of fog is of
minor importance at frequencies lower than
2 gigahertz. However, fog can cause serious
attenuation by absorption, at frequencies
above 2 gigahertz.

Snow
The scattering effect because of snow is
difficult to compute because of irregular
sizes and shapes of the flakes. While
information on the attenuating effect of