A new method of measuring optical turbulence of atmospheric surface layer at Antarctic Taishan Station with ultrasonic anemometer

To find the optimal location for large-aperture telescopes is a goal of astronomy. Chinese Antarctic astronomy has begun to flourish in recent years, and it is an urgent need in basic astronomical work to measure and analyze the optical turbulence spatiotemporal distribution in the Antarctic region. We analyzed turbulence data measured by a mobile atmospheric parameter measurement system from 30 December 2013 to 10 February 2014 at Antarctic Taishan Station. Because there is a discrepancy between the refractive index structure constant Cn2 measured by an ultrasonic anemometer with a single-point temperature structure function method and by micro-thermometer, a new method to measure C,2 with a temperature spectrum method is proposed herein. Through comparing long-term continuous Cn2 data derived from ultrasonic anemometer with those via the new method and micro-thermometer, trend, magnitude and measured weak turbulence of-2× 10-16m-2/3 are generally satisfactory. The reason for the discrepancy in Cn2 measurement between the ultrasonic anemometer with the old method and micro-thermometer is investigated.