Where is Ridge A?

• Published in: SPIE Proceedings, Ground-based and Airborne Telescopes IV
• Main Authors: Sims, Geoff, Kulesa, Craig, Ashley, Michael C. B., Lawrence, Jon S., Saunders, Will, Storey, John W. V.
• Other Authors: Stepp, Larry M., Gilmozzi, Roberto, Hall, Helen J.
• Format: Article in Journal/Newspaper
• Language: English
• Published: SPIE 2012
• Subjects: Antarc*; Antarctica
• Online Access: https://researchers.mq.edu.au/en/publications/cdfe1a8e-e4e5-458f-b4d6-2594292e12af; https://doi.org/10.1117/12.925512; https://research-management.mq.edu.au/ws/files/62228497/Publisher%20version%20(open%20access).pdf; http://www.scopus.com/inward/record.url?scp=84871757242&partnerID=8YFLogxK

First identified in 2009 as the site with the lowest precipitable water and best terahertz transmission on Earth, Ridge A is located approximately 150 km south of Dome A, Antarctica. To further refine this optimum location prior to deployment in 2012 of a robotic THz observatory, we have modelled the atmospheric transmission as a function of location over a 1,000,000 km square grid using three years of data from the Microwave Humidity Sounder on the NOAA-18 satellite. The modelling identifies a broad area of exceptionally low water vapour close to the 4,000 metre elevation contour, reaching below 100 microns for extended periods of time.