Simulation of atmospheric conditions using a numerical weather prediction model at Dome A, Antarctic: Method and preliminary results

Abstract

Research on the Antarctic site has shown that it has outstanding features such as excellent seeing, low water vapor, and extremely long polar nights. It is exceptional condition for astronomical observation. Many people think that Dome A is promising as the best site in Antarctica. However, there is only one summer station at Dome A, it has been difficult to conduct continuous site monitoring. The numerical weather prediction method - Weather Research and Forecasting (WRF) model is a good tool to solve the above difficulties. The WRF model was configured with 3 nested domains and 60 vertical levels. The numerical approach, by using of meteorological parameters and parameterization of optical turbulence, can provide the near-surface weather conditions, cloudiness, the precipitable water vapor (PWV) and optical turbulence parameters. We present the preliminary results with WRF model at Dome A in January 2012. The mean temperature for the entire month is -31.57°C, the mean pressure is 584.73 HPa, the median PWV is 0.25 mm, the relative humidity is between 40% and 80% most of the time and the mean wind speed is 4.78m/s. Although the integral seeing value is 0.84 arc second, the free atmospheric seeing is only about 0.26 arc seconds.