Recommended Data-Reduction Techniques

When reducing SCUBA data it is suggested that the following procedure be followed:

1.

For 850-µm data, both the skydips (with the updated values of T_HOT, T_COLD and $\eta _{\rm tel}$) and the revised CSO Tau relations are trustworthy. Given the infrequency of skydip measurements, we recommend that when the CSO Tau monitor is working, the polynomial fits be used in conjunction with the revised relations. However, if observers are concerned that the CSO Tau measurements are obtained at a fixed azimuth, the skydips will be more than sufficient for data reduction.

2.

For 450-µm data, individual skydips cannot be trusted. However, the revised CSO Tau relations were constructed with extreme care (Section 5), and are believed to be solid. To reduce 450-µm data, we suggest using either the polynomial fits to the CSO Tau or the 850-µm skydips, in conjunction with the new relations.

3.

For post-upgrade narrowband data, there are not enough data to construct CSO Tau relations. There is no a priori reason for these relations to differ from the pre-upgrade relations. The pre-upgrade relations should be a good approximation until more data are available to confirm this.