On the origin of oscillations in a solar diameter observed through the Earth's atmosphere: A terrestrial atmospheric or a solar phenomenon

Abstract

Interpretations of current and past results from ground-based solar diameter measurements, as well as the planning of scientific programs for the 1980's, are strongly dependent on the perceived level of the degrading effects of the Earth's atmosphere. One of the more effective approaches has been to design the observing program and the subsequent data analysis such that the solar diameter measurements themselves could provide an evaluation of atmospheric effects. Many important results have been obtained in studies of this type and these results are collected here to help in appraising the current situation. This evidence all points in one direction: the Earth's atmosphere, while complicating the design of observational programs, is not the source of the oscillations observed in solar diameter measurements. Further, this same evidence indicates that the Earth's atmosphere will not pose any serious limitations in ground-based solar diameter studies during the 1980's.