First Seasonal Study of Optical Turbulence with an Atmospheric Model

Abstract

We present the first complete seasonal variation study extended over 1 year, of all the principal astroclimatic parameters above the San Pedro Mártir Observatory, simulated with an atmospheric model, Meso-Nh. The model was run in an autonomous way to simulate C2N and wind speed vertical profiles (~20 km) related to the 80 nights after it was calibrated with the aid of a set of measured C2N profiles. All the integrated parameters are calculated using two basic parameters: C2N(h) and V(h). Simulations match measurements within a dispersion of a few percent. Correlations between meteorological and astroclimatic parameters are discussed, and general seasonal trends are presented as evidence. The potential of numerical simulations as a new tool for the climatological analysis of optical turbulence above astronomical sites is discussed.