OSA-ESO ADAPTIVE OPTICS TOPICAL MEETING


MONITORING THE VERTICAL PROFILE OF TURBULENCE


The vertical profile of turbulence is measured either by SCIDAR techniques or by Balloon borne microthermal measurements.

The comparison between results obtaines at Mauna Kea and Paranal over two similar campaigns seem to indicate a slightly more turbulent upper atmosphere over Paranal.

Average Vertical Profiles of Turbulence as a function of respective height above ground


Both sites are very comparable with regards to average wind speed, reaching a maximum of 30 m/s between 12 and 14 km above sea level.