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Site testing study based on weather balloons measurements

Published online by Cambridge University Press:  05 January 2006

M. Giard ,
F. Casoli ,
F. Paletou ,
E. Aristidi ,
A. Agabi ,
M. Azouit ,
E. Fossat ,
J. Vernin ,
T. Sadibekova  and
T. Travouillon
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E. Aristidi*
Affiliation:
LUAN, Université de Nice, Parc Valrose, 06108 Nice Cedex 2, France
A. Agabi
Affiliation:
LUAN, Université de Nice, Parc Valrose, 06108 Nice Cedex 2, France
M. Azouit
Affiliation:
LUAN, Université de Nice, Parc Valrose, 06108 Nice Cedex 2, France
E. Fossat
Affiliation:
LUAN, Université de Nice, Parc Valrose, 06108 Nice Cedex 2, France
J. Vernin
Affiliation:
LUAN, Université de Nice, Parc Valrose, 06108 Nice Cedex 2, France
T. Sadibekova
Affiliation:
LUAN, Université de Nice, Parc Valrose, 06108 Nice Cedex 2, France
T. Travouillon
Affiliation:
School of Physics,University of New South Wales, Sydney, NSW 2052, Australia
J. S. Lawrence
Affiliation:
School of Physics,University of New South Wales, Sydney, NSW 2052, Australia
B. Halter
Affiliation:
Department of Geography, University of Idaho, Moscow, Idaho, USA
W. L. Roth
Affiliation:
Department of Geography, University of Idaho, Moscow, Idaho, USA
V. P. Walden
Affiliation:
Department of Geography, University of Idaho, Moscow, Idaho, USA
*
aristidi@unice.fr
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Abstract

We present wind and temperature profiles at Dome C measured during the polar summer by balloon born sonds. Data from 197 flights have been processed for 4 campaigns between 2000 and 2004. We show the exceptionnal wind conditions at Dome C: averaged ground wind speed is 3.6 m s-1. We noticed in mid-november the presence of high altitude strong winds (40 m s-1) probably due to the polar vortex which disappear in summer. These winds seem to have no effect on seeing measurements made with a DIMM at the same period. Temperature profiles exhibit a minimum at height 5500 m (over the snow surface) that defines the tropopause. Surface layer temperature profile has negative gradient in the first 50 m above ground in the afternoon and a strong inversion layer (5°C over 50 m) around midnight. Wind profiles are compared with other astronomical sites, and with a meteorological model from Meteo France.

Type
Research Article
Information
European Astronomical Society Publications Series , Volume 14: Dome C Astronomy and Astrophysics Meeting , 2005 , pp. 227 - 232
Copyright
© EAS, EDP Sciences, 2005

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