Does a storm affect the radio signal in any way? What generally influences it?

Question

Radio communication

Is there a difference in signal propagation over land and over water? Are there any weather conditions or something else?

Answer 1

Radio emission covers a very wide range of frequencies. Physical effects and observed phenomena in different ranges of radio waves can differ not only quantitatively, but also qualitatively, therefore, the directions of research in this science fall into separate branches, corresponding in general to the classification of radio waves by ranges. The main physical effects and phenomena under study:
the influence of the Earth's surface on the emitted waves, the formation of waves associated with the Earth's surface;
reflection of waves from various objects, both natural and artificial, located on the surface of the Earth and multipath formation of the final signal;
weakening of the power of radio waves due to their absorption by rain, snow, dust;
reflection of radio waves from rain, snow, dust, flocks of birds;
curvature of the propagation paths of radio waves due to the heterogeneity of the layers of the atmosphere.
The main results of the theory used by specialists in related fields:
Estimation of signal power losses during the propagation of radio waves, necessary to assess the range of any radio engineering system /
Multipath propagation of radio waves due to a constant change in the ratio leads to fluctuations in the power of the received signal, fading. Communication theorists study the statistics of these fading, design hardware, and use coding techniques adapted to the nature of the fading.
The reflection of radio waves from various objects presents a significant interference to radar stations, creating decoys.
The curvature of the propagation line of radio waves in an inhomogeneous atmosphere leads to errors in the measurement of coordinates in radar and radio navigation.
Determination of the spatial sector of radio accessibility (radio visibility zone).
The most significant factor influencing the propagation of radio waves in real conditions is meteorology. Therefore, meteorological data are widely used by this branch of knowledge. On the other hand, it makes its demands on meteorology, for example, on the size of water droplets in rain of varying intensity.