As we all know, the atmosphere greatly affects the propagation
of radio waves, with all the various layers, and the effect of the
Sun and sunspots on propagation through the atmosphere.

Is it therefore not beyond the bounds possibility that this same atmosphere
affects the initial propagation of radio waves away from our antennae,
and that somehow is the reason why short antennae are poor radiators
compared to antennae of significant (1/4 lambda) fractions of
a wavelength?

I know that I have attempted to discuss this before and been met
by the hidebound rednecks of Yankland, but it is a question
of interest to me, and not a troll.