Site testing for submillimetre astronomy at Dome C, Antarctica
International audience Aims. Over the past few years a major effort has been put into the exploration of potential sites for the deployment of submillimetre astronomical facilities. Amongst the most important sites are Dome C and Dome A on the Antarctic Plateau, and the Chajnantor area in Chile. In...
Published in: | Astronomy & Astrophysics |
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Main Authors: | , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , |
Other Authors: | , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , |
Format: | Article in Journal/Newspaper |
Language: | English |
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HAL CCSD
2011
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Online Access: | https://hal.archives-ouvertes.fr/hal-01006479 https://doi.org/10.1051/0004-6361/201117345 |
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ftccsdartic:oai:HAL:hal-01006479v1 |
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openpolar |
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Open Polar |
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Archive ouverte HAL (Hyper Article en Ligne, CCSD - Centre pour la Communication Scientifique Directe) |
op_collection_id |
ftccsdartic |
language |
English |
topic |
atmospheric effects submillimeter: general site testing [PHYS.PHYS.PHYS-AO-PH]Physics [physics]/Physics [physics]/Atmospheric and Oceanic Physics [physics.ao-ph] |
spellingShingle |
atmospheric effects submillimeter: general site testing [PHYS.PHYS.PHYS-AO-PH]Physics [physics]/Physics [physics]/Atmospheric and Oceanic Physics [physics.ao-ph] Tremblin, Pascal Minier, V. Schneider, N. Al. Durand, G. C. B. Ashley, M. S. Lawrence, J. M. Luong-Van, D. W. V. Storey, J. An. Durand, G. Reinert, Y. Veyssiere, C. Walter, C. Ade, P. G. Calisse, P. Challita, Z. Fossat, E. Sabbatini, L. Pellegrini, A. Ricaud, P. Urban, Jakub Site testing for submillimetre astronomy at Dome C, Antarctica |
topic_facet |
atmospheric effects submillimeter: general site testing [PHYS.PHYS.PHYS-AO-PH]Physics [physics]/Physics [physics]/Atmospheric and Oceanic Physics [physics.ao-ph] |
description |
International audience Aims. Over the past few years a major effort has been put into the exploration of potential sites for the deployment of submillimetre astronomical facilities. Amongst the most important sites are Dome C and Dome A on the Antarctic Plateau, and the Chajnantor area in Chile. In this context, we report on measurements of the sky opacity at 200 μm over a period of three years at the French-Italian station, Concordia, at Dome C, Antarctica. We also present some solutions to the challenges of operating in the harsh polar environment. Methods. The 200-μm atmospheric opacity was measured with a tipper. The forward atmospheric model MOLIERE (Microwave Observation LIne Estimation and REtrieval) was used to calculate the atmospheric transmission and to evaluate the precipitable water vapour content (PWV) from the observed sky opacity. These results have been compared with satellite measurements from the Infrared Atmospheric Sounding Interferometer (IASI) on Metop-A, with balloon humidity sondes and with results obtained by a ground-based microwave radiometer (HAMSTRAD). In addition, a series of experiments has been designed to study frost formation on surfaces, and the temporal and spatial evolution of thermal gradients in the low atmosphere. Results. Dome C offers exceptional conditions in terms of absolute atmospheric transmission and stability for submillimetre astronomy. Over the austral winter the PWV exhibits long periods during which it is stable and at a very low level (0.1 to 0.3 mm). Higher values (0.2 to 0.8 mm) of PWV are observed during the short summer period. Based on observations over three years, a transmission of around 50% at 350 μm is achieved for 75% of the time. The 200-μm window opens with a typical transmission of 10% to 15% for 25% of the time. Conclusions. Dome C is one of the best accessible sites on Earth for submillimetre astronomy. Observations at 350 or 450 μm are possible all year round, and the 200-μm window opens long enough and with a sufficient transparency to be ... |
author2 |
Institut de Recherches sur les lois Fondamentales de l'Univers (IRFU) Commissariat à l'énergie atomique et aux énergies alternatives (CEA)-Université Paris-Saclay Laboratoire d'Astrophysique de Bordeaux Pessac (LAB) Université de Bordeaux (UB)-Institut national des sciences de l'Univers (INSU - CNRS)-Centre National de la Recherche Scientifique (CNRS) Observatoire aquitain des sciences de l'univers (OASU) Université Sciences et Technologies - Bordeaux 1-Institut national des sciences de l'Univers (INSU - CNRS)-Centre National de la Recherche Scientifique (CNRS) Université Sciences et Technologies - Bordeaux 1 Laboratoire Hippolyte Fizeau (FIZEAU) Université Nice Sophia Antipolis (. - 2019) (UNS) COMUE Université Côte d'Azur (2015-2019) (COMUE UCA)-COMUE Université Côte d'Azur (2015-2019) (COMUE UCA)-Institut national des sciences de l'Univers (INSU - CNRS)-Observatoire de la Côte d'Azur COMUE Université Côte d'Azur (2015-2019) (COMUE UCA)-Université Côte d'Azur (UCA)-Université Côte d'Azur (UCA)-Centre National de la Recherche Scientifique (CNRS) Italian National Agency for New Technologies, Energy and Sustainable Economic Development (ENEA) Laboratoire d'aérologie (LAERO) Centre National de la Recherche Scientifique (CNRS)-Observatoire Midi-Pyrénées (OMP) Météo France-Centre National d'Études Spatiales Toulouse (CNES)-Université Fédérale Toulouse Midi-Pyrénées-Centre National de la Recherche Scientifique (CNRS)-Institut de Recherche pour le Développement (IRD)-Météo France-Centre National d'Études Spatiales Toulouse (CNES)-Université Fédérale Toulouse Midi-Pyrénées-Centre National de la Recherche Scientifique (CNRS)-Institut de Recherche pour le Développement (IRD)-Université Toulouse III - Paul Sabatier (UT3) Université Fédérale Toulouse Midi-Pyrénées |
format |
Article in Journal/Newspaper |
author |
Tremblin, Pascal Minier, V. Schneider, N. Al. Durand, G. C. B. Ashley, M. S. Lawrence, J. M. Luong-Van, D. W. V. Storey, J. An. Durand, G. Reinert, Y. Veyssiere, C. Walter, C. Ade, P. G. Calisse, P. Challita, Z. Fossat, E. Sabbatini, L. Pellegrini, A. Ricaud, P. Urban, Jakub |
author_facet |
Tremblin, Pascal Minier, V. Schneider, N. Al. Durand, G. C. B. Ashley, M. S. Lawrence, J. M. Luong-Van, D. W. V. Storey, J. An. Durand, G. Reinert, Y. Veyssiere, C. Walter, C. Ade, P. G. Calisse, P. Challita, Z. Fossat, E. Sabbatini, L. Pellegrini, A. Ricaud, P. Urban, Jakub |
author_sort |
Tremblin, Pascal |
title |
Site testing for submillimetre astronomy at Dome C, Antarctica |
title_short |
Site testing for submillimetre astronomy at Dome C, Antarctica |
title_full |
Site testing for submillimetre astronomy at Dome C, Antarctica |
title_fullStr |
Site testing for submillimetre astronomy at Dome C, Antarctica |
title_full_unstemmed |
Site testing for submillimetre astronomy at Dome C, Antarctica |
title_sort |
site testing for submillimetre astronomy at dome c, antarctica |
publisher |
HAL CCSD |
publishDate |
2011 |
url |
https://hal.archives-ouvertes.fr/hal-01006479 https://doi.org/10.1051/0004-6361/201117345 |
geographic |
Antarctic Austral The Antarctic |
geographic_facet |
Antarctic Austral The Antarctic |
genre |
Antarc* Antarctic Antarctica |
genre_facet |
Antarc* Antarctic Antarctica |
op_source |
ISSN: 0004-6361 EISSN: 1432-0756 Astronomy and Astrophysics - A&A https://hal.archives-ouvertes.fr/hal-01006479 Astronomy and Astrophysics - A&A, EDP Sciences, 2011, 535 (A112), pp.1-8. ⟨10.1051/0004-6361/201117345⟩ |
op_relation |
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op_doi |
https://doi.org/10.1051/0004-6361/201117345 |
container_title |
Astronomy & Astrophysics |
container_volume |
535 |
container_start_page |
A112 |
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1766253716011220992 |
spelling |
ftccsdartic:oai:HAL:hal-01006479v1 2023-05-15T13:50:33+02:00 Site testing for submillimetre astronomy at Dome C, Antarctica Tremblin, Pascal Minier, V. Schneider, N. Al. Durand, G. C. B. Ashley, M. S. Lawrence, J. M. Luong-Van, D. W. V. Storey, J. An. Durand, G. Reinert, Y. Veyssiere, C. Walter, C. Ade, P. G. Calisse, P. Challita, Z. Fossat, E. Sabbatini, L. Pellegrini, A. Ricaud, P. Urban, Jakub Institut de Recherches sur les lois Fondamentales de l'Univers (IRFU) Commissariat à l'énergie atomique et aux énergies alternatives (CEA)-Université Paris-Saclay Laboratoire d'Astrophysique de Bordeaux Pessac (LAB) Université de Bordeaux (UB)-Institut national des sciences de l'Univers (INSU - CNRS)-Centre National de la Recherche Scientifique (CNRS) Observatoire aquitain des sciences de l'univers (OASU) Université Sciences et Technologies - Bordeaux 1-Institut national des sciences de l'Univers (INSU - CNRS)-Centre National de la Recherche Scientifique (CNRS) Université Sciences et Technologies - Bordeaux 1 Laboratoire Hippolyte Fizeau (FIZEAU) Université Nice Sophia Antipolis (. - 2019) (UNS) COMUE Université Côte d'Azur (2015-2019) (COMUE UCA)-COMUE Université Côte d'Azur (2015-2019) (COMUE UCA)-Institut national des sciences de l'Univers (INSU - CNRS)-Observatoire de la Côte d'Azur COMUE Université Côte d'Azur (2015-2019) (COMUE UCA)-Université Côte d'Azur (UCA)-Université Côte d'Azur (UCA)-Centre National de la Recherche Scientifique (CNRS) Italian National Agency for New Technologies, Energy and Sustainable Economic Development (ENEA) Laboratoire d'aérologie (LAERO) Centre National de la Recherche Scientifique (CNRS)-Observatoire Midi-Pyrénées (OMP) Météo France-Centre National d'Études Spatiales Toulouse (CNES)-Université Fédérale Toulouse Midi-Pyrénées-Centre National de la Recherche Scientifique (CNRS)-Institut de Recherche pour le Développement (IRD)-Météo France-Centre National d'Études Spatiales Toulouse (CNES)-Université Fédérale Toulouse Midi-Pyrénées-Centre National de la Recherche Scientifique (CNRS)-Institut de Recherche pour le Développement (IRD)-Université Toulouse III - Paul Sabatier (UT3) Université Fédérale Toulouse Midi-Pyrénées 2011 https://hal.archives-ouvertes.fr/hal-01006479 https://doi.org/10.1051/0004-6361/201117345 en eng HAL CCSD EDP Sciences info:eu-repo/semantics/altIdentifier/doi/10.1051/0004-6361/201117345 hal-01006479 https://hal.archives-ouvertes.fr/hal-01006479 doi:10.1051/0004-6361/201117345 ISSN: 0004-6361 EISSN: 1432-0756 Astronomy and Astrophysics - A&A https://hal.archives-ouvertes.fr/hal-01006479 Astronomy and Astrophysics - A&A, EDP Sciences, 2011, 535 (A112), pp.1-8. ⟨10.1051/0004-6361/201117345⟩ atmospheric effects submillimeter: general site testing [PHYS.PHYS.PHYS-AO-PH]Physics [physics]/Physics [physics]/Atmospheric and Oceanic Physics [physics.ao-ph] info:eu-repo/semantics/article Journal articles 2011 ftccsdartic https://doi.org/10.1051/0004-6361/201117345 2021-12-26T00:16:27Z International audience Aims. Over the past few years a major effort has been put into the exploration of potential sites for the deployment of submillimetre astronomical facilities. Amongst the most important sites are Dome C and Dome A on the Antarctic Plateau, and the Chajnantor area in Chile. In this context, we report on measurements of the sky opacity at 200 μm over a period of three years at the French-Italian station, Concordia, at Dome C, Antarctica. We also present some solutions to the challenges of operating in the harsh polar environment. Methods. The 200-μm atmospheric opacity was measured with a tipper. The forward atmospheric model MOLIERE (Microwave Observation LIne Estimation and REtrieval) was used to calculate the atmospheric transmission and to evaluate the precipitable water vapour content (PWV) from the observed sky opacity. These results have been compared with satellite measurements from the Infrared Atmospheric Sounding Interferometer (IASI) on Metop-A, with balloon humidity sondes and with results obtained by a ground-based microwave radiometer (HAMSTRAD). In addition, a series of experiments has been designed to study frost formation on surfaces, and the temporal and spatial evolution of thermal gradients in the low atmosphere. Results. Dome C offers exceptional conditions in terms of absolute atmospheric transmission and stability for submillimetre astronomy. Over the austral winter the PWV exhibits long periods during which it is stable and at a very low level (0.1 to 0.3 mm). Higher values (0.2 to 0.8 mm) of PWV are observed during the short summer period. Based on observations over three years, a transmission of around 50% at 350 μm is achieved for 75% of the time. The 200-μm window opens with a typical transmission of 10% to 15% for 25% of the time. Conclusions. Dome C is one of the best accessible sites on Earth for submillimetre astronomy. Observations at 350 or 450 μm are possible all year round, and the 200-μm window opens long enough and with a sufficient transparency to be ... Article in Journal/Newspaper Antarc* Antarctic Antarctica Archive ouverte HAL (Hyper Article en Ligne, CCSD - Centre pour la Communication Scientifique Directe) Antarctic Austral The Antarctic Astronomy & Astrophysics 535 A112 |