Radio WavesVersion en ligne A simple explanation of how radio waves travel around the world. par Catherine McClintock 1 Transmitter 2 Radio Waves 3 Ionosphere 4 Receiver 5 The Earth. Explanation 1 The transmitter emits(transmits) the radio waves. 2 The radio waves travel up towards the ionosphere. 3 The ionosphere refracts the radio waves back to the earth's surface some thousands of kilometers from the transmitter. 4 The Receiver picks up the radio waves that have been refracted by the ionosphere. The signal can now be heard far over the horizon and well beyond the direct range from the transmitter to the receiver. 5 Our home planet!!!