Weather at Sierra Negra: 7.3-year statistics and a new method to estimate the temporal fraction of cloud cover

TL;DR

This study provides a 7.3-year weather analysis of Sierra Negra, introducing a new method to estimate cloud cover fraction, confirming the site's suitability for millimeter and high-energy astronomy.

Contribution

A comprehensive weather dataset analysis combined with a novel approach to estimate cloud cover fraction at Sierra Negra.

Findings

Thermal stability is excellent for telescope performance.

The new method accurately estimates cloud-free sky fractions.

Site conditions are stable and ideal for astronomical observations.

Abstract

Sierra Negra, one of the highest peaks in central Mexico, is the site of the Large Millimeter Telescope. We describe the first results of a comprehensive analysis of the weather data measured in situ from October 2000 to February 2008 to be used as a reference for future activity in the site. We compare the data from two different stations at the summit considering the accuracy of both instruments. We analysed the diurnal, seasonal and annual cycles for all the parameters. The thermal stability is remarkably good, crucial for a good performance of the telescopes. From the solar radiation data we developed a new method to estimate the fraction of time when the sky is clear of clouds. We show that our measurements are consistent with a warm standard atmosphere model. The conditions at the site are benign and stable given its altitude, showing that Sierra Negra is a extremely good site for millimeter and high energy observations.