2018AJ....155...37Q

In this paper, we introduce an approach wherein the Weather Research and Forecasting (WRF) model is coupled with the bulk aerodynamic method to estimate the surface layer refractive index structure constant (C_n²) above Taishan Station in Antarctica. First, we use the measured meteorological parameters to estimate C_n² using the bulk aerodynamic method, and second, we use the WRF model output parameters to estimate C_n² using the bulk aerodynamic method. Finally, the corresponding C_n² values from the micro-thermometer are compared with the C_n² values estimated using the WRF model coupled with the bulk aerodynamic method. We analyzed the statistical operators-the bias, root mean square error (RMSE), bias-corrected RMSE (σ), and correlation coefficient (R_xy)-in a 20 day data set to assess how this approach performs. In addition, we employ contingency tables to investigate the estimation quality of this approach, which provides complementary key information with respect to the bias, RMSE, σ, and R_xy. The quantitative results are encouraging and permit us to confirm the fine performance of this approach. The main conclusions of this study tell us that this approach provides a positive impact on optimizing the observing time in astronomical applications and provides complementary key information for potential astronomical sites.