| PI | Institute/Department | |
|---|---|---|
| Chen, Ming-Tang |
Academia Sinica, Institute of Astronomy and Astrophysics
|
| Program Manager | Funding Agency | |
|---|---|---|
| Crain, Ms. Renee |
NSF, Office of Polar Programs
|
With this experiment, the Academia Sinica, Institute of Astronomy and Astrophysics (ASIAA) will use a radiometer to survey sky clarity and atmospheric stability over Summit Station, Greenland, at submillimeter wavelengths. This activity is a piloting program for the possible establishment of a new station for the Very-Long-Baseline-Interferometry (VLBI) network at submilimeter wavelengths. Recent rapid progress on VLBI technique has now achieved the required spatial resolution to image the nearby Black Hole shadows, or the event horizons of the Black Hole. Proper distribution of antennas is essential to get a good quality of images, and the researchers are testing several potential site candidates at which to set a new antenna. Submillimeter observations require a very dry atmospheric condition. A cold, high altitude site, such as the Summit Station, is a good candidate for this purpose, and the final decision on site selection can only be made through extensive atmospheric monitoring of transmission parameters associated with submillimeter waves.
The objective of the ASIAA radiometer experiment is to survey the sky clarity and the atmospheric stability from Summit Station at submillimeter wavelengths. This activity is part of a piloting program for the possible establishment of a new station for the Very-Long-Baseline-Interferometry (VLBI) network. Summit Station was selected as a potential candidate for the VLBI network because of the very dry atmospheric conditions, cold, and high altitude characteristics of the site. The radiometer was initially installed at Summit Station summer 2011 and will continue operating through winter 2014/2015. During 2011 a field team of two researchers will deploy to Summit to install the instrument. The radiometer will run autonomously for the duration of the experiment. Looking towards potential installation of an antenna near Summit Station, in 2012, the researchers will investigate options for project logistical support at the Thule Air Base. A team of three researchers will travel to Thule in early April for an eight -day site visit. They will travel to Thule via the ANG logistics chain, and then depart through Kangerlussuaq, on commercial air. Two researchers will return to Greenland in June and visit Summit Station for familiarization and planning; activities include a day trip to the future site of the Isi station. A third team member will visit Summit in August to conduct radiometer maintenance. In 2013, the instrument will continue to run with no team member travel to Greenland for this project. During 2014, a research participant will visit Summit Station for instrument maintenance and upgrades. The instrument will run autonomously through winter 2014/2015 with minimal support from the on-site science technicians. During 2015, one team member will visit Summit Station in April - May to address problems that arose with the instrument during the winter of 2014/2015.
CPS will provide Air National Guard (ANG) coordination for passengers and cargo between Kangerlussuaq and Summit Station; liquid nitrogen shared with ICECAPS for August calibration; Summit user days, power and infrastructure at Summit Station, with science technical support if on-site assistance is required. The PI will pay for these costs via an NSF-billable arrangement. For all other support, the PI will arrange and pay expenses directly.
| Season | Field Site | Date In | Date Out | #People |
|---|---|---|---|---|
|
2011
|
Greenland - Summit
|
|
|
2
|
|
2012
|
Greenland - Summit
|
|
|
2
|
|
2013
|
Greenland - Summit
|
0
|
||
|
2014
|
Greenland - Summit
|
|
|
1
|
|
2015
|
Greenland - Summit
|
|
|
1
|