Astroclimatic parameters characterization at lenghu site with ERA5 products

Abstract

ABSTRACT Atmospheric turbulence and wind speed distributions are essential in determining the quality of astronomical sites and implementing adaptive optics systems. In this study, the optical turbulence with a general turbulence model and the wind speed characteristics at Lenghu are investigated by employing the 21-yr European Centre for Medium-Range Weather Forecasts’ fifth set of reanalysis (ERA5) data. The vertical distributions and seasonal behaviours of the wind speed and atmospheric turbulence are analysed. The wind speed values at 200 hPa pressure level (V200) are low in spring and summer except for June, and high in autumn and winter. The highest and lowest values of V200 at Lenghu are 39.93 m s−1 in September and 27.48 m s−1 in April, respectively. Additionally, atmospheric conditions are relatively stable above 20 km throughout the year. The locations of the peaks in the $C_n^2$ profiles correspond to the tropopause and the jet wind stream regions at the Lenghu site. Furthermore, the median seeing value from ERA5 is 0.72 arcsec, generally consistent with the statistically measured value of 0.75 arcsec. Moreover, the astronomical parameters (r0, θAO, and τAO) were initially provided at the Lenghu site. The median values of r0, ε, θAO, and τAO are 15.17 cm, 0.72 arcsec, 1.19 arcsec, and 2.83 ms, respectively, thus providing the potential reference for astronomical applications.