Abstract
We perform a systematic search for astronomical observatory sites in the MENA (Middle-East and North Africa) region using space-based data for all the relevant factors, i.e. altitude (DEM), cloud fraction (CF), light pollution (NTL), precipitable water vapor (PWV), aerosol optical depth (AOD), relative humidity (RH), wind speed (WS), Richardson Number (RN), and diurnal temperature range (DTR). We look for the best locations overall even where altitudes are low (the threshold that we normally consider being 1,500 m) or where the combination of the afore-mentioned determining factors had previously excluded all locations in a given country.In this aim, we use the rich data that Earth-observing satellites provide, e.g. the Terra and Aqua multi-national NASA research satellites, with their MODIS (Moderate Resolution Imaging Spectroradiometer) and AIRS (Atmospheric Infrared Sounder) instruments, the Defense Meteorological Satellite Program’s Operational Linescan System (DMSP-OLS), and other products from climate diagnostics archives (e.g. MERRA).We present preliminary results on the best locations for the region.
Highlights
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The Arab world currently has only one large optical astronomy telescope larger than 1 meter in diameter
We performed a systematic search for potential astronomical observatory sites in the MENA region using remotely sensed key parameters as well as climate diagnostics archives and meteorological databases
Summary
This content has been downloaded from IOPscience. Ser. 869 012070 (http://iopscience.iop.org/1742-6596/869/1/012070) View the table of contents for this issue, or go to the journal homepage for more. Download details: IP Address: 212.198.141.148 This content was downloaded on 16/07/2017 at 13:25 Please note that terms and conditions apply. You may be interested in: Atmospheric Infrared Sounder (AIRS) observation of the carbon monoxide distribution over Malaysia J M Rajab Hussain, Hwee-San Lim, M Z Mat Jafri et al Detection of potential fishing zone for Pacific saury (Cololabis saira) using generalized additive model and remotely sensed data Achmad Fachruddin Syah, Sei-Ichi Saitoh, Irene D. Alabia et al PRECIPITABLE WATER VAPOR AT MOUNT-LAGUNA OBSERVATORY R. J. Angione Calibration of the Relationship between Precipitable Water Vapor and 225 GHz Atmospheric Opacity via Optical Echelle Spectroscopy at Las Campanas Observatory Joanna ThomasOsip, Andrew McWilliam, M. Impacts of Asian dust on the determination of cloud thermodynamic phase from satellite observations Hongchun Jin, Yuhong Yi, Shaima L Nasiri et al A global map of urban extent from nightlights Yuyu Zhou, Steven J Smith, Kaiguang Zhao et al Land-cover change analysis in 50 global cities by using a combination of Landsat data and analysis of grid cells Hasi Bagan and Yoshiki Yamagata
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