General exam question G3A08
Subelement G3, RADIO WAVE PROPAGATION· Group G3A
G3A08
How can a geomagnetic storm affect HF propagation?
- A.Improve high-latitude HF propagation
- B.Degrade ground wave propagation
- C.Improve ground wave propagation
- D.Degrade high-latitude HF propagation (correct answer)
WhyA geomagnetic storm can degrade high-latitude HF propagation. A geomagnetic storm disturbs the ionosphere over the higher latitudes especially hard, degrading HF propagation there even as it can leave lower-latitude paths relatively unaffected, answer D. It doesn't improve high-latitude HF propagation, and it primarily affects skywave conditions, not ground wave, so B and C don't describe a real effect of a geomagnetic storm.
Published 2026-08-28 · Last updated 2026-08-28 · Question text is verbatim from the 2023-2027 NCVEC Element 3 pool (public domain); the explanation above is original writing, see our methodology.
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