How is the far-field elevation pattern of a vertically polarized antenna affected by being mounted over seawater versus soil?
Radiation at low angles decreases
Additional lobes appear at higher elevation angles
Separate elevation lobes will combine into a single lobe
Radiation at low angles increases✓Correct answer
Explanation
Seawater is a far better conductor than ordinary soil, so it reflects vertically polarized energy with much less absorption. The strong reflection combines with the direct wave at very low elevation angles, so the low-angle radiation that matters for DX is noticeably stronger over salt water.