Fluctuations analysis of a near the horizon satellite-ship path

The evaporation duct is related to an atmospheric layer just above the sea and often less than thirty metres high, where humidity is greater than in standard conditions. The authors suggest a method of treating radiowave propagation from a point out of the atmosphere to a point in the evaporation duct or close to it. They also intend to characterise disturbances on the received signal caused by the inhomogeneous part of the propagation link. Three types of evaporation ducts are considered, in order to estimate their effects on the link: the moderate evaporation duct is 10 metres high and corresponds to an average of meteorological conditions over the Mediterranean Sea; the medium evaporation duct is 16 metres high and corresponds to a similar average over the Indian Ocean; the strong evaporation duct is 26 metres high and can be encountered occasionally over warm seas