Model for estimating the astronomical seeing at Dome A, Antarctica

Area of Science:

• Astronomy
• Atmospheric Physics
• Geophysics

Background:

• Astronomical seeing is crucial for ground-based telescope performance.
• Dome A in Antarctica presents unique atmospheric conditions for astronomical observations.
• Existing models may not fully capture the specific conditions at high-altitude Antarctic sites.

Purpose of the Study:

• To develop and validate a model for estimating astronomical seeing at Kunlun Station (Dome A).
• To utilize near-ground weather data for direct seeing prediction.
• To improve the accuracy of astronomical seeing forecasts in challenging environments.

Main Methods:

• Applied the Tatarskii equation as the basis for the seeing model.
• Used wind shear and temperature gradient as primary input parameters.
• Collected and analyzed seeing and meteorological data at Dome A during the summer of 2019.
• Tested two calculation methods for relating wind shear and temperature gradient to boundary layer properties.

Main Results:

• The proposed model demonstrated good performance in estimating astronomical seeing.
• Correlation coefficients exceeding 0.77 were achieved between predicted and measured seeing.
• The model successfully identified trends where weak wind and strong temperature inversions lead to improved seeing.

Conclusions:

• The developed model provides a reliable method for estimating astronomical seeing at Dome A.
• The model's accuracy is supported by high correlation coefficients with measured data.
• The findings highlight the importance of near-ground atmospheric conditions for astronomical observation quality at Dome A.