Worldwide site comparison for submillimetre astronomy
International audience The most important limitation for ground-based submillimetre (submm) astronomy is the broad-band absorption of the total water vapour in the atmosphere above an observation site, often expressed as the Precipitable Water Vapour (PWV). A long-term statistic on the PWV is thus m...
Published in: | Astronomy & Astrophysics |
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Main Authors: | , , , , |
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Format: | Article in Journal/Newspaper |
Language: | English |
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2012
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Online Access: | https://hal.science/hal-00839145 https://hal.science/hal-00839145/document https://hal.science/hal-00839145/file/aa20420-12.pdf https://doi.org/10.1051/0004-6361/201220420 |
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Institut national des sciences de l'Univers: HAL-INSU |
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English |
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[PHYS.ASTR.IM]Physics [physics]/Astrophysics [astro-ph]/Instrumentation and Methods for Astrophysic [astro-ph.IM] [SDU.ASTR.IM]Sciences of the Universe [physics]/Astrophysics [astro-ph]/Instrumentation and Methods for Astrophysic [astro-ph.IM] |
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[PHYS.ASTR.IM]Physics [physics]/Astrophysics [astro-ph]/Instrumentation and Methods for Astrophysic [astro-ph.IM] [SDU.ASTR.IM]Sciences of the Universe [physics]/Astrophysics [astro-ph]/Instrumentation and Methods for Astrophysic [astro-ph.IM] Tremblin, Pascal Schneider, N. Minier, V. Durand, G. Al. Urban, Jakub Worldwide site comparison for submillimetre astronomy |
topic_facet |
[PHYS.ASTR.IM]Physics [physics]/Astrophysics [astro-ph]/Instrumentation and Methods for Astrophysic [astro-ph.IM] [SDU.ASTR.IM]Sciences of the Universe [physics]/Astrophysics [astro-ph]/Instrumentation and Methods for Astrophysic [astro-ph.IM] |
description |
International audience The most important limitation for ground-based submillimetre (submm) astronomy is the broad-band absorption of the total water vapour in the atmosphere above an observation site, often expressed as the Precipitable Water Vapour (PWV). A long-term statistic on the PWV is thus mandatory to characterize the quality of an existing or potential site for observational submm-astronomy. In this study we present a three-year statistic (2008-2010) of the PWV for ground-based telescope sites all around the world and for stratospheric altitudes relevant for SOFIA (Stratospheric Observatory for Far-infrared astronomy). The submm-transmission is calculated for typical PWVs using an atmospheric model. We present the absolute PWV values for each site sorted by year and time percentage. The PWV corresponding to the first decile (10%) and the quartiles (25%, 50%, 75%) are calculated and transmission curves between 150 {\mu}m and 3 mm for these values are shown. The Antarctic and South-American sites present very good conditions for submillimetre astronomy. The 350 {\mu}m and 450 {\mu}m atmospheric windows are open all year long whereas the 200 {\mu}m atmospheric window opens reasonably for 25 % of the time in Antarctica and the extremely high-altitude sites in Chile. Potential interesting new facilities are Macon in Argentinia and Summit in Greenland that show similar conditions as for example Mauna Kea (Hawaii). For SOFIA, we present in more detail transmission curves for different altitudes (11 to 14 km), PWV values, and higher frequencies (up to 5 THz). Though the atmosphere at these altitude is generally very transparent, the absorption at very high frequencies becomes more important, partly caused by minor species. In conclusion, the method presented in this paper could identify sites on Earth with a great potential for submillimetre astronomy, and guide future site testing campaigns in situ. |
author2 |
FORMATION STELLAIRE 2012 Laboratoire d'astrodynamique, d'astrophysique et d'aéronomie de bordeaux (L3AB) Université Sciences et Technologies - Bordeaux 1 (UB)-Institut national des sciences de l'Univers (INSU - CNRS)-Centre National de la Recherche Scientifique (CNRS)-Université Sciences et Technologies - Bordeaux 1 (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 (UB)-Institut national des sciences de l'Univers (INSU - CNRS)-Centre National de la Recherche Scientifique (CNRS)-Centre National de la Recherche Scientifique (CNRS)-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)-Université de Bordeaux (UB)-Institut national des sciences de l'Univers (INSU - CNRS) Institut de Recherches sur les lois Fondamentales de l'Univers (IRFU) Université Paris-Saclay-Direction de Recherche Fondamentale (CEA) (DRF (CEA)) Commissariat à l'énergie atomique et aux énergies alternatives (CEA)-Commissariat à l'énergie atomique et aux énergies alternatives (CEA) |
format |
Article in Journal/Newspaper |
author |
Tremblin, Pascal Schneider, N. Minier, V. Durand, G. Al. Urban, Jakub |
author_facet |
Tremblin, Pascal Schneider, N. Minier, V. Durand, G. Al. Urban, Jakub |
author_sort |
Tremblin, Pascal |
title |
Worldwide site comparison for submillimetre astronomy |
title_short |
Worldwide site comparison for submillimetre astronomy |
title_full |
Worldwide site comparison for submillimetre astronomy |
title_fullStr |
Worldwide site comparison for submillimetre astronomy |
title_full_unstemmed |
Worldwide site comparison for submillimetre astronomy |
title_sort |
worldwide site comparison for submillimetre astronomy |
publisher |
HAL CCSD |
publishDate |
2012 |
url |
https://hal.science/hal-00839145 https://hal.science/hal-00839145/document https://hal.science/hal-00839145/file/aa20420-12.pdf https://doi.org/10.1051/0004-6361/201220420 |
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Antarc* Antarctic Antarctica Greenland |
genre_facet |
Antarc* Antarctic Antarctica Greenland |
op_source |
ISSN: 0004-6361 EISSN: 1432-0756 Astronomy and Astrophysics - A&A https://hal.science/hal-00839145 Astronomy and Astrophysics - A&A, 2012, 548, pp.id.A65. ⟨10.1051/0004-6361/201220420⟩ |
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info:eu-repo/semantics/altIdentifier/arxiv/1210.4930 info:eu-repo/semantics/altIdentifier/doi/10.1051/0004-6361/201220420 hal-00839145 https://hal.science/hal-00839145 https://hal.science/hal-00839145/document https://hal.science/hal-00839145/file/aa20420-12.pdf ARXIV: 1210.4930 doi:10.1051/0004-6361/201220420 |
op_rights |
info:eu-repo/semantics/OpenAccess |
op_doi |
https://doi.org/10.1051/0004-6361/201220420 |
container_title |
Astronomy & Astrophysics |
container_volume |
548 |
container_start_page |
A65 |
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1797571893750923264 |
spelling |
ftinsu:oai:HAL:hal-00839145v1 2024-04-28T07:58:49+00:00 Worldwide site comparison for submillimetre astronomy Tremblin, Pascal Schneider, N. Minier, V. Durand, G. Al. Urban, Jakub FORMATION STELLAIRE 2012 Laboratoire d'astrodynamique, d'astrophysique et d'aéronomie de bordeaux (L3AB) Université Sciences et Technologies - Bordeaux 1 (UB)-Institut national des sciences de l'Univers (INSU - CNRS)-Centre National de la Recherche Scientifique (CNRS)-Université Sciences et Technologies - Bordeaux 1 (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 (UB)-Institut national des sciences de l'Univers (INSU - CNRS)-Centre National de la Recherche Scientifique (CNRS)-Centre National de la Recherche Scientifique (CNRS)-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)-Université de Bordeaux (UB)-Institut national des sciences de l'Univers (INSU - CNRS) Institut de Recherches sur les lois Fondamentales de l'Univers (IRFU) Université Paris-Saclay-Direction de Recherche Fondamentale (CEA) (DRF (CEA)) Commissariat à l'énergie atomique et aux énergies alternatives (CEA)-Commissariat à l'énergie atomique et aux énergies alternatives (CEA) 2012 https://hal.science/hal-00839145 https://hal.science/hal-00839145/document https://hal.science/hal-00839145/file/aa20420-12.pdf https://doi.org/10.1051/0004-6361/201220420 en eng HAL CCSD EDP Sciences info:eu-repo/semantics/altIdentifier/arxiv/1210.4930 info:eu-repo/semantics/altIdentifier/doi/10.1051/0004-6361/201220420 hal-00839145 https://hal.science/hal-00839145 https://hal.science/hal-00839145/document https://hal.science/hal-00839145/file/aa20420-12.pdf ARXIV: 1210.4930 doi:10.1051/0004-6361/201220420 info:eu-repo/semantics/OpenAccess ISSN: 0004-6361 EISSN: 1432-0756 Astronomy and Astrophysics - A&A https://hal.science/hal-00839145 Astronomy and Astrophysics - A&A, 2012, 548, pp.id.A65. ⟨10.1051/0004-6361/201220420⟩ [PHYS.ASTR.IM]Physics [physics]/Astrophysics [astro-ph]/Instrumentation and Methods for Astrophysic [astro-ph.IM] [SDU.ASTR.IM]Sciences of the Universe [physics]/Astrophysics [astro-ph]/Instrumentation and Methods for Astrophysic [astro-ph.IM] info:eu-repo/semantics/article Journal articles 2012 ftinsu https://doi.org/10.1051/0004-6361/201220420 2024-04-05T00:30:24Z International audience The most important limitation for ground-based submillimetre (submm) astronomy is the broad-band absorption of the total water vapour in the atmosphere above an observation site, often expressed as the Precipitable Water Vapour (PWV). A long-term statistic on the PWV is thus mandatory to characterize the quality of an existing or potential site for observational submm-astronomy. In this study we present a three-year statistic (2008-2010) of the PWV for ground-based telescope sites all around the world and for stratospheric altitudes relevant for SOFIA (Stratospheric Observatory for Far-infrared astronomy). The submm-transmission is calculated for typical PWVs using an atmospheric model. We present the absolute PWV values for each site sorted by year and time percentage. The PWV corresponding to the first decile (10%) and the quartiles (25%, 50%, 75%) are calculated and transmission curves between 150 {\mu}m and 3 mm for these values are shown. The Antarctic and South-American sites present very good conditions for submillimetre astronomy. The 350 {\mu}m and 450 {\mu}m atmospheric windows are open all year long whereas the 200 {\mu}m atmospheric window opens reasonably for 25 % of the time in Antarctica and the extremely high-altitude sites in Chile. Potential interesting new facilities are Macon in Argentinia and Summit in Greenland that show similar conditions as for example Mauna Kea (Hawaii). For SOFIA, we present in more detail transmission curves for different altitudes (11 to 14 km), PWV values, and higher frequencies (up to 5 THz). Though the atmosphere at these altitude is generally very transparent, the absorption at very high frequencies becomes more important, partly caused by minor species. In conclusion, the method presented in this paper could identify sites on Earth with a great potential for submillimetre astronomy, and guide future site testing campaigns in situ. Article in Journal/Newspaper Antarc* Antarctic Antarctica Greenland Institut national des sciences de l'Univers: HAL-INSU Astronomy & Astrophysics 548 A65 |