Influence of seeing effects on cloud model inversions

Abstract

Context. Atmospheric seeing due to terrestrial atmospheric turbulence is a process that distorts solar ground-based observations. Aims. We study the influence of atmospheric seeing on Hα cloud model inversions. Methods. We use Beckers’ cloud model which assumes a constant source function to obtain physical parameters from observed quietSun Hα profiles, and profiles convolved with a Gaussian point spread function that simulates the effect of atmospheric seeing on solar observations. Results. Our analysis indicates that atmospheric seeing does not affect the velocity determination, but does influence significantly the determination of the Doppler width when velocity gradients are present, and hence, the determination of the temperature, while the optical thickness and source function are also quantitatively affected, especially for high values of atmospheric seeing. Conclusions. The effects of atmospheric seeing on cloud model inversions also depend on the actual size of the structures under study. For the presented observations, the derived cloud model parameter distributions do not change significantly for atmospheric seeing up to ∼0.5 �� .