Meteorology meets Astronomy : open discussionMeteorology meets Astronomy : open discussion

1. Usefullness of atmospheric mesoscale modelling for astrophysical applications

- to forecast astrophysical parameters (Opt.Turb.) for site operation scheduling- to provide high resolution 3D maps of atmospheric fields (Dx~1km,Dz~ 10 - 100m, Dt~ a few hours to several days)- to estimate the climatology of astrophysical parameters at specifc sites

2. Advance in atmospheric mesoscale modelling

- Non Hydrostatic models with high resolution capacity and grid-nesting capacities (ex: WRF/MM5, Meso-NH…) nearly operational! - Progress in intialization and data assimilation at mesoscale- Operational products already exist : AMPS for Antarctica, Mauna Kea forecast center with WRF

1. Needs expressed by astrophysics are very challenging for the meteorological community

- To better represent turbulence (dynamics) and Cn² for conditions difficult for atmospheric modelling : e.g. stable layers : TKE calibration; complex terrain (lee waves, drainage flow, …)

- To improve the modelling in the lowest layers and the surface processes : effect of soil, vegetation, turbulence in the Surface boundary layer

- To better understand the link between the « optical outer scale » and the dynamical mixing length

Meteorology meets Astronomy : open discussionMeteorology meets Astronomy : open discussion

Other questions for meteorologists :

• Polar conditions : forecasting the height of the Boundary layer in Antarctica

• Transport of dust at some astrophysical sites : e.g. Las Palmas influenced by Sahara dusts : needs to have a synoptic approach and grid-nesting modelling, satellite data …

• Climate evolution at the TMT site for the next decades : IPCC data

• Usefullness of Large scale analysis (ECMWF, NCEP …) at the astronomical sites : e.g. high tropospheric characteristics

Meteorology meets Astronomy : open discussionMeteorology meets Astronomy : open discussion

Instrumentation : Common interest in instrumental technics :

- Turbulence at low level from eddy correlation technics - Scintillometry : Estimation of sensible heat fluxes

« horizontally »- Sodar : Wind speed and height of the Stable boundary layer

Meteorology meets Astronomy : open discussionMeteorology meets Astronomy : open discussion

Intercomparison exercises needed ?:

- R.Racine’s suggestion : A pilot experiment for intercomparison of simulated and observed astronomical parameters