Statistics – Applications
Scientific paper
Sep 2009
adsabs.harvard.edu/cgi-bin/nph-data_query?bibcode=2009otam.conf...13r&link_type=abstract
Optical Turbulence: Astronomy Meets Meteorology, Proceedings of the Astronomy Meets Meteorology, Proceedings of the Optical Turb
Statistics
Applications
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Scientific paper
Optical turbulence is a key determinant of an astronomical telescope science performance. Forecasting optical turbulence at altitude is thus of paramount importance for astronomy. And so are the understanding and management of ground layer and locally induced turbulence. This paper presents an astronomer's view of both the futility and the utility of various site characterization activities, of the challenges they pose and of dreams one has about understanding and forecasting site qualities. It is pointed out that, for likely suitable sites, the average integrated optical turbulence can be calculated to good accuracy by a simple model and that turbulence profiles differ less between sites that between nights or times at a given site. The challenges therefore stem from the temporal and spatial variability of the turbulence. This variability is illustrated and briefly discussed. Collaboration between astronomers and atmospheric physicists must hold the key to the astronomers' dream of knowing in detail what the optical turbulence at the site will be tomorrow night, or next week, and which science program will then make best use of the facility.
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