RADIOMETER DEVELOPMENT AT UDEC AND PWV DATA AT CHAJNANTOR

The Radioastronomy Laboratory of the Department of Astronomy at U. de Concepcion has two projects involving radiometers: (a) the development of low cost radiometers with digital backends for water vapor and oxygen lines at 22 GHz and 50–60 GHz respectively, and (b) the refurbishment of two ALMA testbed 183 GHz radiometers. Both 183 GHz radiometers are now installed in the Chajnantor area taking PWV measurements. We also plan to develop long-term studies of PWV with these instruments to validate 60 years of data from NCEP/NCAR reanalysis data for the Chajnantor area.