Publications

Abdelaziz, G; Guebsi, R; Guessoum, N; Flamant, C (2017). Search for Best Astronomical Observatory Sites in the MENA Region using Satellite Measurements. FRONTIERS IN THEORETICAL AND APPLIED PHYSICS/UAE 2017 (FTAPS 2017), 869, UNSP 012070.

Abstract
We perform a systematic search for astronomical observatory sites in the MENA (Middle-East and North Africa) region using space-based data for all the relevant factors, i.e. altitude (DEM), cloud fraction (CF), light pollution (NTL), precipitable water vapor (PWV), aerosol optical depth (AOD), relative humidity (RH), wind speed (WS), Richardson Number (RN), and diurnal temperature range (DTR). We look for the best locations overall even where altitudes are low (the threshold that we normally consider being 1,500 m) or where the combination of the afore-mentioned determining factors had previously excluded all locations in a given country. In this aim, we use the rich data that Earth-observing satellites provide, e.g. the Terra and Aqua multi-national NASA research satellites, with their MODIS (Moderate Resolution Imaging Spectroradiometer) and AIRS (Atmospheric Infrared Sounder) instruments, the Defense Meteorological Satellite Program's Operational Linescan System (DMSP-OLS), and other products from climate diagnostics archives (e. g. MERRA). We present preliminary results on the best locations for the region.

DOI:
10.1088/1742-6596/869/1/012070

ISSN:
1742-6588