The development of such radar is important for detecting plasma bubbles.
Chinese scientists have used cutting-edge radar to simultaneously detect plasma bubbles over the Egyptian pyramids and Midway Island, sparking public interest. The radar, known as the Low Latitude Long-Range Ionospheric Radar (LARID), was developed by the Institute of Geology and Geophysics of the Chinese Academy of Sciences and installed last year. South China Morning Post The LARID radar is reportedly capable of detecting plasma bubbles, an extreme weather phenomenon that interferes with charged particles in the ionosphere and disrupts satellite communications and GPS.
On August 27, China's Institute of Geology and Geophysics announced the largest radar detection to date of plasma bubbles caused by a solar storm last November. The radar signal, which can be detected from North Africa to the central Pacific Ocean, allowed scientists to observe the formation and movement of the plasma bubbles in unprecedented detail.
The LARID radar, based on Hainan Island, has a range of 9,600km, covering areas from Hawaii to Libya. Unlike conventional radars, LARID uses high-powered electromagnetic waves that bounce between the ionosphere and the ground to detect targets over the horizon. Operating at 8-22MHz, the radar system uses 48 transceiver antennas to detect plasma bubbles and is a fully digitalized phased array system that allows real-time adjustments.
Initially, LARID had a detection range of 3,000 km. Operational experience and advances such as new signal coding and geophysical simulation models have tripled the radar's detection range to 9,600 km in less than six months.
The development of such radars is crucial for detecting plasma bubbles, which are a major threat in modern warfare. But a lack of large-scale, long-term observation facilities over the oceans has hindered understanding and early warning capabilities. To address this, Chinese scientists have proposed building a network of three to four over-the-horizon radars like LARID in low-latitude regions around the world.
The Chinese military also deploys over-the-horizon radars similar to LARID to detect targets such as F-22 stealth fighter jets, suggesting that more advanced variants with higher resolution may be in military use.
