Abstract

This research aims to analyze the atmospheric conditions related to the annual pathlength fluctuations at the ALMA site, focusing on the impact of atmospheric dynamics, particularly the formation of Lee waves. Using weather data from 2017 to 2023 and satellite imagery from the GOES-16 satellite, we investigated the correlation between pathlength variations and atmospheric variables such as relative humidity, wind speed, wind direction, and temperature. Our findings reveal significant seasonal and diurnal patterns in pathlength variability, delivering evidence of the formation of Lee waves that affect the atmospheric stability when wind speeds exceed 5 m/s. Our study explores the impact of the weather variables in the pathlength variation, identifying the atmospheric conditions that should be considered in an under-development pathlength forecast model that will help to enhance ALMA observation.