Abstract:
This study analyzes twelve years of wind speed and direction data collected at the proposed National Large Solar Telescope (NLST) site near Pangong Tso, Merak village, Leh-Ladakh. A weather station from Campbell Scientifc Instruments, installed in 2008, has been continuously monitoring meteorological parameters, including
wind speed and direction. The data reveals a consistent pattern of predominantly northwest winds, particularly during morning hours, with speeds generally below 5 m/s. While seasonal variations infuence wind speed and direction, the overall trend remains stable. To assess the site’s suitability for astronomical observations, we
compared high-altitude wind speeds at various renowned astronomical sites using reanalysis data from 2008 to 2020. Strong correlations were observed between surface and high-altitude wind speeds at 10 m, 50 m, and 500 m. Statistical analysis of 200-mbar pressure level wind speeds identifed La Palma as the most favorable site with a wind speed of 18.76 m/s. La Silla, on the other hand, exhibited the highest wind speed at 34.76 m/s. Merak’s estimated wind speed of 30.99 m/s, coupled with its favorable wind direction and low surface wind speeds, suggests its potential as a promising site for astronomical observations
