MOSE: MOdeling Sites ESO Report Phase B

Abstract

The MOSE project (MOdeling ESO Sites) aims at proving the feasibility of the forecast of (1) all the classical atmospheric parameters (temperature, wind speed 2 intensity and direction, relative humidity) and (2) the optical turbulence OT (CN profiles) with all the main integrated astro-climatic parameters derived from the 2 CN i.e. the seeing (ε), the isoplanatic angle (θ0 ), the wavefront coherence time (τ0 ) above the two ESO sites of Cerro Paranal (site of the Very Large Telescope - VLT) and Cerro Armazones (site selected for the European Extremely Large Telescope - E-ELT). For what concerns the atmospheric parameters the study aims at studying the abil- ity of the model in reconstructing their vertical stratification along the troposphere and low stratosphere (around 20 km) and their estimation near the ground (the first 30 m). To constrain and validate the model a different set of measurements have been used that are provided by different instruments. At Cerro Paranal: Automatic Weather Station (AWS) [RD1] and radiosoungings [RD2]. At Cerro Armazones: Automatic Weather Station (AWS) and mast [RD3]. For what concerns the optical turbulence and derived integrated astroclimatic paramaters measurements from a Generalized Scidar (GS), a Differential Image Motion Monitor (DIMM) and a MASS (Multi Aperture Scintillation Sensor) running simultaneously during the PAR2007 Site testing campaign at Cerro Paranal [RD4] have been used for the model calibration and a preliminary model validation. Independent measurements from a DIMM and MASS taken routinely at Cerro Paranal since 19/08/1998a have been used for the final model validation. In this technical report are summarized the deliverables according to MOSE Project - Phase B and minutes from review meetings (BSCW archive).