ELT site prospect in Morocco: aerosol characterization

Aziza Bounhir; Zouhair Benkhaldoun; Mougenot Bernard; El Arbi Siher

doi:10.1117/12.669118

11 July 2006 ELT site prospect in Morocco: aerosol characterization

Aziza Bounhir, Zouhair Benkhaldoun, Mougenot Bernard, El Arbi Siher

Proceedings Volume 6269, Ground-based and Airborne Instrumentation for Astronomy; 62692D (2006) https://doi.org/10.1117/12.669118
Event: SPIE Astronomical Telescopes + Instrumentation, 2006, Orlando, Florida , United States

Abstract

In order to prospect for good astronomical sites in Morocco, we make a preliminary study in terms of aerosol characterization. For that purpose we use AERONET data and the Aerosol Index provided by Earth Probe platform. After establishing a good correlation between the aerosol optical thickness (AOT) and the aerosol index (AI) in three sites located in the area of interest, we try to extrapolate to areas where AERONET data are not available. The studied areas are: Marrakech, Dakhla located in Morocco, and Izana in the Canary Islands. These areas exhibit a predominance of desert dust aerosol particles. The altitude seems to be the predominant factor influencing the distribution of the aerosol optical thickness during the year. A full characterization of these sites makes possible a determination of the aerosol optical thickness of neighbouring areas.

Citation Download Citation

Aziza Bounhir, Zouhair Benkhaldoun, Mougenot Bernard, and El Arbi Siher "ELT site prospect in Morocco: aerosol characterization", Proc. SPIE 6269, Ground-based and Airborne Instrumentation for Astronomy, 62692D (11 July 2006); https://doi.org/10.1117/12.669118

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