A simple two-dimensional ray-tracing visual tool in the complex tropospheric environment

Abstract

This paper introduces a simple two-dimensional ray-tracing visual tool, Ray-VT, for simulating propagations in the tropospheric environment. It is capable of tracing ray paths through range-dependent refractive conditions as well as arbitrary terrain cases. The fundamental computations are based on the piece-wise application of Snell's law including a small angle approximation. The Ray-VT can be used to investigate the effects of ducting propagations and to assess the performances of radar systems. It can also be used as an educational aid for understanding the propagation characteristics in complex environments.