Propagation of radio waves through the Earth's atmosphere can be affected by a variety of tropospheric and ionospheric effects. The Centre for RF Propagation and Atmospheric Research (CPAR) provides a technical centre of excellence for the investigation of radio frequency propagation and the impact of the propagation environment on communication, radar, navigation and surveillance systems operating at frequencies from 10kHz to 100GHz. Information obtained from studies of the propagation channel is used to optimise systems design through simulation and/or the development of propagation tools for coverage planning and frequency management. The scope of work performed range from short-term consultancy and product development, to long-term "blue sky" research.

Expertise within CPAR includes:

• Tropospheric and ionospheric modelling and measurement
• RF channel measurements, simulations and compensation
• System design, assessment and evaluation
• Consultancy and operational support

Please click on the links below for more information about CPAR research and applications.

MIMO channel sounder

• JASMINE – Wideband multi-frequency MIMO channel sounder

Ultra high frequency and millimetre wave frequency modelling studies

• MAPEL – Millimetre wAve Prediction modEL
• Wideband millimetric measurements
• CRUMPET – line-of-sight assessment tool
• Clear-air propagation impairment studies

MF/HF groundwave modelling

• GRAPPLE – GRoundwAve Propagation Predictions for the Littoral Environment

Ionospheric research

• JIVE – HF Jamming and Interception Vulnerability Estimator
• IRIS – oblique HF ionosonde
• Vertical ionosonde
• HF channel sounding – DAMSON and WHISPER
• SMART – analytic HF ray tracing
• Ionospheric heating
• Ionospheric forecasting
• Ionospheric tomography
• Data assimilation of ionospheric radio occultation measurements