Chinese radar detects mysterious bubble over Egyptian pyramids that can disrupt satellite communications
plasma bubbles ever recorded, covering regions as far apart as the Egyptian pyramids and the Midway Islands. These bubbles, which interfere with satellite communications and GPS, were detected using the Low Latitude Long Range Ionospheric Radar (LARID), a new radar system developed by the Institute of Geology and Geophysics under the Chinese Academy of Sciences. The detection, caused by a solar storm in November, spans from North Africa to the central Pacific Ocean.
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The radar system, LARID, enabled scientists to track and observe the movement and formation of plasma bubbles in greater detail than ever before. The interference caused by these bubbles occurs due to disturbances in the ionosphere, affecting communication systems that rely on satellite signals.
LARID's Technological Advancements
The LARID radar, located on Hainan Island, has an impressive detection range of 9,600 kilometers, capable of monitoring regions stretching from Hawaii to Libya. It operates by emitting high-power electromagnetic waves that bounce between the ionosphere and the Earth's surface. This system uses 48 transceiver antennas and relies on a fully digital phased array to adjust detection parameters in real-time. According to the report by South China Morning Post, LARID initially had a detection range of just 3,000 kilometers, but technological advancements, including new signal coding and geophysical simulation models, have expanded its range significantly.
