Modeling surface effects with the parabolic equation method

An approximate but efficient technique is presented that accounts for vertical polarization and rough surface effects over the sea for ducting conditions using the split-step parabolic equation method. The primary justification for this semi-empirical technique is that in most cases propagation loss predictions match results from a waveguide model that is believed to account for these effects properly. The technique and comparisons of modeled results versus waveguide results and measured data are examined