Table 2 Following table discusses the environmental factors and their effect on the operation pf VLBI
S. No | Environmental factors | Reason for stowing the VLBI radio telescope |
|---|---|---|
1 | Strong Winds/Squalls | Damage the structural properties of VLBI radio telescope. High wind gusts can cause pointing error |
2 | Precipitation (Rain, Snow, etc.) | It reduces the reflectivity of the antenna and is attenuating to radio signals. Heavy snow accumulated over antenna may cause damage |
3 | Thunderstorms | Damage the receiver and other electrical parts of the system |
4 | Hail Storms | Damage the structural properties of VLBI Radio Telescope |
5 | Dust/Sand Storms | Can cause attenuation. Dust can get inside the equipments to interrupt the process and damage the system |