What effect does tropospheric bending have on 2-metre radio waves?

Tropospheric bending occurs in the Earth's lower atmosphere (the troposphere) due to specific weather patterns. When VHF and UHF signals, such as those on the 2-metre band, encounter varying layers of air density and temperature, they are bent along the curvature of the Earth rather than traveling in a straight line out into space. This bending effectively extends the radio horizon far beyond visual line-of-sight. For amateur radio operators, this is a highly desirable condition because it allows them to make contacts with stations much farther away than normal local conditions would permit. It does not distort the signal or shorten the communication range; rather, it provides a stable and extended path for long-distance VHF communication.