Dr. Mayra Lebrón leads a CARSE-supported project aimed at characterizing weather conditions in Puerto Rico to assess the island’s suitability as a potential site for antennas of the National Radio Astronomy Observatory’s Next Generation Very Large Array (ngVLA), a major next-generation radio astronomy facility planned for North America. Following the loss of the primary telescope at the Arecibo Observatory, this effort supports Puerto Rico’s continued participation in cutting-edge radio astronomy infrastructure.

The project analyzes archived ground-based and satellite meteorological data—including temperature, humidity, wind, precipitation, and solar irradiance—to evaluate atmospheric conditions relevant to high-frequency radio observations (>10 GHz). The study will identify regions in Puerto Rico with favorable observing conditions and produce a technical report to inform future ngVLA site selection.

Beyond its scientific goals, the project strengthens collaboration between Puerto Rico institutions and international partners, including the National Radio Astronomy Observatoryand Yale University, while training graduate students in weather data analysis and radio astronomy site characterization. The work also aligns with CARSE expertise in radiometry and environmental monitoring, laying the groundwork for future collaborations on atmospheric characterization and radio-frequency interference studies related to the ngVLA initiative.

Principal Investigator
Dr. Mayra E. Lebrón Santos — University of Puerto Rico, Río Piedras

Collaborators
Dr. Héctor Arce — Yale University
Dr. Jorge Morales — University of Puerto Rico, Río Piedras
Dr. Carmen Pantoja — University of Puerto Rico, Río Piedras

Project Overview
This CARSE-supported project evaluates Puerto Rico’s potential participation in the Next Generation Very Large Array (ngVLA), a next-generation radio astronomy facility being developed by the National Radio Astronomy Observatory. The study analyzes archived ground-based and satellite meteorological data to characterize atmospheric conditions relevant to high-frequency radio observations, including temperature, humidity, wind speed and direction, precipitation, and solar irradiance. The research aims to identify regions in Puerto Rico with environmental conditions suitable for future ngVLA antenna sites, helping strengthen the island’s role in radio astronomy following the loss of the main telescope at the Arecibo Observatory.

Relevance to CARSE
The project leverages CARSE expertise in radiometry, environmental monitoring, and atmospheric data analysis, while fostering collaboration between Puerto Rico researchers and international radio astronomy institutions.

Expected Outcomes / Impact

• Identification of potential ngVLA study sites in Puerto Rico
• Technical report on weather conditions relevant to radio astronomy observations
• Strengthened collaboration with ngVLA researchers and partner institutions
• Training opportunities for graduate students in meteorological and radio astronomy data analysis