Chinese scientists have detected plasma bubbles simultaneously above the Egyptian pyramids and Midway Islands using cutting-edge radar, sparking curiosity. Known as the Low Latitude Long Range Ionospheric Radar (LARID), the radar was developed by the Institute of Geology and Geophysics under the Chinese Academy of Sciences and installed last year. South China Morning Post According to the report, the LARID radar can detect plasma bubbles, an unusual meteorological phenomenon that disrupts satellite communications and GPS by interfering with the charged particles of the ionosphere.
On August 27, China’s Institute of Geology and Geophysics announced the largest radar detection of plasma bubbles ever made, generated by a solar storm last November. Radar signals from North Africa to the central Pacific allowed scientists to observe the formation and movement of the plasma bubbles in unprecedented detail.
The LARID radar, located on Hainan Island, has a range of 9,600 kilometers, stretching from Hawaii to Libya. Unlike conventional radars, LARID uses high-power electromagnetic waves that bounce between the ionosphere and the ground, detecting targets beyond the horizon. Its radar system, operating at 8-22 MHz, uses 48 transceiver antennas to detect plasma bubbles, while its fully digital phased array system enables real-time adjustments.
LARID initially had a detection range of 3,000 kilometers. Thanks to operational experience and advances such as new signal coding and geophysical simulation models, the radar’s detection range has tripled to 9,600 kilometers in less than half a year.
The development of such radars to detect plasma bubbles is important because they are a significant threat to modern warfare. However, the lack of large-scale, long-term observation facilities over the oceans has hindered our understanding and early warning capabilities. To address this, Chinese scientists have proposed establishing a network of three to four LARID-like over-the-horizon radars in low-latitude regions around the world.
China’s military has also deployed over-the-horizon radars similar to LARID that have detected targets such as F-22 stealth fighters, suggesting a more advanced version with higher resolution for military use.
