Speaker
Description
The performance of Imaging Atmospheric Cherenkov Telescopes (IACTs), such as the Cherenkov Telescope Array Observatory (CTAO), depends critically on atmospheric conditions, which govern both air-shower development and Cherenkov light transmission. In this contribution, we focus on the latter. In the first part, we investigate seasonal and Stratosphere to Troposphere exchange-driven variations of absorbing molecules—primarily ozone—above the two CTAO sites. Using dedicated simulations, we assess the impact of these variations on image intensity, and trigger effective area, with particular emphasis on dynamic atmospheric phenomena such as stratosphere-to-troposphere transport events. In the second part, we study via simulations the effect of realistic cloud profiles, as observed over La Palma, on CTAO North performance. The results of these two studies provide quantitative estimates of the systematic uncertainties affecting CTAO performance and inform the development of its atmospheric calibration strategy.