VHF and UHF propagation in the Canadian high Arctic

Radio propagation in the Arctic maritime environment was studied. Five UHF radio paths between pairs of elevated points were selected along a 300 km east-west line which parallels a potentially important navigation route through the Arctic islands. Two VHF paths, each between an elevated site and a point near sea level were also chosen to simulate communications with a ship. Partial results from the summer to winter transition season show that propagation between the elevated points is highly reliable, but that propagation along the slanted paths appears to be strongly affected by radio wave ducting.