Atmospheric Optics and Astronomy

1
Atmospheric Optics and Astronomy Concepts,
techniques and technologies
OPTICON planning meeting FP7
22 June 2006
2
Site Characterisation under OPTICON-FP6

• NA2 WP2
• Complete Site Characterisation
• Co-ordination of night-time and day-time seeing
  measurements
• Joint actions for meteorology, dust extinction,
  sky background, measurement of turbulence and
  wind vertical profiles
• Distribution and discussion of results and
  participation at the scientific forums
• 10 OPTICON members (LUAN)
• Budget 300 k for the period 2004-2008
• http//www.otri.iac.es/na2
• http//www.otri.iac.es/sitesting/principal/
• FP6-ELT Design Study. WP on Site Selection
• (OWL-ELT Working Group on Site Selection. ESO)

3
Atmospheric Optics and Astronomy

• Proliferation of techniques, procedures and
  parameters
• No easy comparison among different sites of
  interest for astronomy and techniques
• It is necessary to agree on parameters and
  techniques
• It is necessary to know the statistical behaviour
  of these parameters
• Crucial for ELT, but not only for that.

4
General Objectives

• Normalization of parameters and observational
  techniques
• Criteria for the standardization of systematic
  measurement campaigns
• Scientific EU forum to think about parameters,
  techniques and standarisation
• Some minor experiments and tests
• To work for the international agreement on these
  standard techniques

5
Some potential specific work-packages

• Viability and validation of satellite
  measurements (and ground-based remote sensing
  measurements)
• Parameters and satellites !
• Cross-calibration with on-site measurements.
• The best techniques for the best parameters
• Techniques for the measurement of the Outer Scale
  (Lo)
• More portable techniques for agreed measurements
• Systematic measurements of turbulence and wind
  profiles in top sites,

6
INDICATIVE BUDGET
0.5 FTE / year
125 k
1 FTE 50 k per year
meetings
25 k
5 k per year
workshops and conferences
20 k
4 k per year
new techniques and experiments
60 k
60 k
publications,
20 k
4 k per year
GRAND TOTAL
250 k
assuming a five-year contract
7
thank you
Atmospheric Optics and Astronomy Concepts,
techniques and technologies