Peru has the largest radar in the world to study physical phenomena
Its antenna is the size of ten soccer fields, allowing it to measure atmospheric layers up to 1,000 km in altitude, says the Minam.
Peru has the largest radar in the world to study physical phenomena. Thanks to its antenna, which is the size of ten soccer fields, it can measure atmospheric layers of up to more than 1,000 km in altitude, says the Ministry of the Environment (Minam).
With this instrument, the phenomena of the ionosphere and other atmospheric layers can be studied from the lower atmosphere to the above-mentioned altitude. It is considered one of the most powerful in the world and can release radio waves of 4 megawatts of power to measure the physical parameters of the ionosphere and observe phenomena of the highest areas of the atmosphere.
This radar has high-tech instrumentation, which places Peru at the forefront of ionospheric radars in the world.
This equipment of 90,000 square meters of extension is part of the Radio Observatory of the Geophysical Institute of Peru (IGP), assigned to the Minam, located in the district of Lurigancho-Chosica, between the limits of Lima and the province of Huarochirí.
The Radio Observatory of Jicamarca and its radar have motivated the development of technology in the country, says the Minam. This has allowed IGP scientists to develop other instruments such as systems for monitoring huaicos, rainfall, volcanoes, and others, for taking forecasts in the field of agriculture, telecommunications (antennas), and precautions for disaster risk management.
The experience of the IGP experts and the most modern technology has allowed the development of projects related to the construction of atmospheric and meteorological radars for the study of winds and rainfall in the lower atmosphere and the implementation of radars to monitor the surface of areas at risk of landslides, among others.
