AO4ELT5 Proceedings
Study of cirrus clouds and implications for the variability of laser guide star intensity and fratricide effects
Otarola, Angel (TMT International Observatory)
Measurements of back-scattering, at a wavelength of 532 nm, from the Cloud-Aerosol Lidar and Infrared Pathfinder Satellite Observation (CALIPSO) satellite, over the period June 2006 - November 2016, are analyzed to characterize cirrus clouds at the location of several observatory sites worldwide. From these data, we derive statistics of altitude, thickness and optical depth of cirrus clouds. These parameters are relevant for understanding and modeling the effects of cloud and aerosols on laser propagation for adaptive optics and the temporal variability of the fratricide pattern. The latter is particularly important for facilities employing center-launched lasers, such as the Thirty Meter Telescope.
DOI: 10.26698/AO4ELT5.0028- Proceeding PDF
