Site testing for submillimetre astronomy at Dome C, Antarctica
Artikel i vetenskaplig tidskrift, 2011

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 mu m 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-mu m 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 mu m is achieved for 75% of the time. The 200-mu m 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 mu m are possible all year round, and the 200-mu m window opens long enough and with a sufficient transparency to be useful. Although the polar environment severely constrains hardware design, a permanent observatory with appropriate technical capabilities is feasible. Because of the very good astronomical conditions, high angular resolution and time series (multi-year) observations at Dome C with a medium size single dish telescope would enable unique studies to be conducted, some of which are not otherwise feasible even from space.

submillimeter: general

atmospheric effects

site testing

Författare

P., Tremblin

Centre d'Etudes de Saclay

V., Minier

Centre d'Etudes de Saclay

N., Schneider

Centre d'Etudes de Saclay

G. Al., Durand

Centre d'Etudes de Saclay

M. C. B., Ashley

University of New South Wales (UNSW)

J. S., Lawrence

University of New South Wales (UNSW)

D. M., Luong-Van

University of New South Wales (UNSW)

J. W. V., Storey

University of New South Wales (UNSW)

G. An., Durand

Centre d'Etudes de Saclay

Y., Reinert

Centre d'Etudes de Saclay

C., Veyssiere

Centre d'Etudes de Saclay

C., Walter

Centre d'Etudes de Saclay

P., Ade

Cardiff University

P. G., Calisse

Cardiff University

Z., Challita

Concordia Station

Université Nice Sophia Antipolis (UNS)

E., Fossat

Université Nice Sophia Antipolis (UNS)

L., Sabbatini

Universita degli studi - Roma Tre

Concordia Station

A., Pellegrini

Ente Per Le Nuove Tecnologie, l'Energia e l'Ambiente

P. Ricaud

Universite Paul Sabatier Toulouse III

Joachim Urban

Chalmers, Rymd- och geovetenskap, Global miljömätteknik

Astronomy and Astrophysics

0004-6361 (ISSN) 1432-0746 (eISSN)

Vol. 535 A112 A112

Ämneskategorier

Meteorologi och atmosfärforskning

Astronomi, astrofysik och kosmologi

DOI

10.1051/0004-6361/201117345

Mer information

Senast uppdaterat

2022-04-05