The AIMS Site Survey

TL;DR

This paper presents site survey results for the Infrared System for Solar Magnetic Field measurement at Saishiteng Mountain, including weather, water vapor, and seeing conditions, to evaluate its suitability for solar observations.

Contribution

It provides detailed site characterization data for Saishiteng Mountain, including weather, precipitable water vapor, and seeing conditions, aiding future solar magnetic field research.

Findings

Median precipitable water vapor in winter is 2.1 mm.

Daytime Fried parameter median is 3.42 cm.

Average observable solar time is 446 minutes per day.

Abstract

This paper reports site survey results for the Infrared System for the Accurate Measurement of Solar Magnetic Field, especially in Saishiteng Mountain, Qinghai, China. Since 2017, we have installed weather station, spectrometer for precipitable water vapor (PWV) and S-DIMM and carried out observation on weather elements, precipitable water vapor and daytime seeing condition for more than one year in almost all candidates. At Mt. Saishiteng, the median value of daytime precipitable water vapor is 5.25 mm and its median value in winter season is 2.1 mm. The median value of Fried parameter of daytime seeing observation at Saishiteng Mountain is 3.42 cm. Its solar direct radiation data shows that solar average observable time is 446 minutes per day and premium time is 401 minutes per day in August 2019.