The best site on Earth?

W. Saunders; J. S. Lawrence; J. W V Storey; M. C B Ashley; S. Kato; P. Minnis; D. M. Winker; G. Liu; C. Kulesa

doi:10.1051/eas/1040011

The best site on Earth?

W. Saunders^*, J. S. Lawrence, J. W V Storey, M. C B Ashley, S. Kato, P. Minnis, D. M. Winker, G. Liu, C. Kulesa

^*Corresponding author for this work

Research output: Contribution to journal › Article › peer-review

2 Citations (Scopus)

Abstract

We compare the merits of potential observatory sites on the Antarctic Plateau, in regard to the boundary layer, cloud cover, free atmosphere seeing, aurorae, airglow, and precipitable water vapour. We find that (a) all Antarctic sites are likely compromised for optical work by airglow and aurorae; (b) Dome A is the best existing site in almost all respects; (c) there is an even better site ('Ridge A') 150 kms SW of Dome A; (d) Dome F is a remarkably good site except for aurorae; (e) Dome C probably has the least cloud cover of any of the sites, and might be able to use a predicted 'OH hole' in the Spring.

Original language	English
Pages (from-to)	89-96
Number of pages	8
Journal	EAS Publications Series
Volume	40
DOIs	https://doi.org/10.1051/eas/1040011
Publication status	Published - 2010
Externally published	Yes

Access to Document

10.1051/eas/1040011

Cite this

@article{0410c0b5b981466f8604bc7f395e71a1,

title = "The best site on Earth?",

abstract = "We compare the merits of potential observatory sites on the Antarctic Plateau, in regard to the boundary layer, cloud cover, free atmosphere seeing, aurorae, airglow, and precipitable water vapour. We find that (a) all Antarctic sites are likely compromised for optical work by airglow and aurorae; (b) Dome A is the best existing site in almost all respects; (c) there is an even better site ('Ridge A') 150 kms SW of Dome A; (d) Dome F is a remarkably good site except for aurorae; (e) Dome C probably has the least cloud cover of any of the sites, and might be able to use a predicted 'OH hole' in the Spring.",

author = "W. Saunders and Lawrence, {J. S.} and Storey, {J. W V} and Ashley, {M. C B} and S. Kato and P. Minnis and Winker, {D. M.} and G. Liu and C. Kulesa",

year = "2010",

doi = "10.1051/eas/1040011",

language = "English",

volume = "40",

pages = "89--96",

journal = "EAS Publications Series",