AAS 201st Meeting, January, 2003
Session 18. Instrumentation for Infrared and Optical Observing
Poster, Monday, January 6, 2003, 9:20am-6:30pm, Exhibit Hall AB

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[18.09] Surface Layer Turbulence Measurements

P. Zimmer, J. T. McGraw (Univ. of New Mexico), M. R. Ackermann (Sandia National Laboratory)

Astronomers can located telescopes at observatories to minimize “seeing” induced by the surface layer of the Earth’s atmosphere. We describe site survey techniques to characterize surface layer turbulence at multiple potential telescope sites, allowing direct comparison among sites, leading to site selection and determination of the minimum height above grade for the telescope. We describe simultaneous microthermal measurements, two-source surface layer, and full atmosphere bright star differential image motion measurements that characterize the surface layer. The morning and evening neutral events are measured to determine the vertical extent of the atmosphere dominated by terrestrial thermal effects.

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Bulletin of the American Astronomical Society, 34, #4
© 2002. The American Astronomical Soceity.