A comparison of observing conditions on the summit cones and shield of Mauna Kea

Author:

Walker, Merle F.

Title:

A comparison of observing conditions on the summit cones and shield of Mauna Kea

Periodical:

Publications of the Astronomical Society of the Pacific

Year:

1983

Volume:

95

Pages:

903-918

Subject:

Site surveys Wind effects

Summary:

This document describes the results of a two-year of observing conditions study that was done from July, 1981 to January, 1982 at an existing dark-sky optical astronomical observatory site. The study was based on simultaneous observations of weather and seeing conditions on one of the summit cones and on the surface of the underlying shield volcano at Mauna Kea. These observations were done when the seeing conditions were significantly poorer at the shield site than on the summit cone. The difference appeared to be due to a disturbance of the airflow at the shield site by the higher summit cones as well as to the effect on the airflow of the shield volcano itself. This suggests that the best seeing conditions will be found only on the tops of the summit cones and that the remaining sites on these cones should, therefore, be reserved for instruments that are designed for high-resolution observations. These observations also suggest that even the seeing at the site on the summit that was used in this study, may be affected with certain wind directions by the disturbing effects of the other summit cones.

Label:

Geology

URL:

http://adsabs.harvard.edu/abs/1983PASP...95..903W

Date:

1983

Collection:

Periodicals