The Observatory on Mauna Loa
Satellite image of the summit of Mauna Loa overlaid with 100-meter contour lines.

The Mauna Loa Observatory (MLO) is an atmospheric baseline station on Mauna Loa, on the island of Hawaii, located in the U.S. state of Hawaii.

Two domes house solar sensors.
The Keeling Curve: Atmospheric CO2 concentrations as measured at Mauna Loa Observatory

History

The Mauna Loa Observatory was founded on June 28th 1956 as part of the US Weather Bureau. It was established on the northern flank of Mauna Loa at 11,134 ft after 1951-1954 efforts were unable to maintain a summit observatory at 13,453 ft.[1]

The Mauna Loa Observatory was developed specifically to monitor solar, atmospheric and meteorological parameters in the free atmosphere. Establishment of a solar constant,[2] routine weather observations, the determination of ozone and monitoring atmospheric circulation were early priorities. Continuous carbon dioxide measurements began in March of 1958 directed by Charles David Keeling from the Scripps Institute of Oceanography. The data set, referred to as the Keeling Curve, is the foundational study in the composition and behavior of greenhouse gases in the atmosphere. Other early research at the observatory included; measurements of cosmic radiation, the atmosphere of Mars, atomic fallout, snow crystals, the solar corona, meteors, cosmic rays and radio transmission. The International Geophysical Year enabled many of the early projects at the observatory secure support and funding. [3]

The Observatory

The Mauna Loa Observatory has been part of the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) Global Monitoring Laboratory’s Baseline Observatory network since 1972. It remains a premier baseline atmospheric monitoring station. The observatory's location, far from continental sources of emissions and above the marine inversion layer make it an ideal site for atmospheric monitoring equipment. The absence of continental weather patterns, lack of vegetation and a predictable diurnal wind pattern provide routine access to clean well mixed air from the free troposphere.

Cooperative Research

In addition to NOAA-GML projects the observatory campus remains host to projects from partner institutions, governmental organizations and universities from around the world. The Mauna Loa Solar Observatory and NSF's Global Oscillations Network Group (GONG) station share this site. The observatory site is also a temporary home to a cosmic microwave background observatory called YTLA.[4]

Site Access

The Observatory is at the end of the Mauna Loa Observatory Access Road and there is no public bathroom. Gated access to the observatory is managed by NOAA. The northern trailhead to the summit of Mauna Loa is located below the observatory site and is managed by Hawaii Volcanoes National Park. The access road passes through State of Hawaii conservation land managed by the Hawaii Department of Land and Natural Resources. Portions of the road were covered by the 2022 Mauna Loa eruption.

See also

References

  1. ↑ Mims III, Forest M. (2012). Hawaii's Mauna Loa Observatory: Fifty Years of Monitoring the Atmosphere. University of Hawaii Press. pp. 49–70. ISBN 978-0-8248-3431-9.
  2. ↑ Stair, Ralph (August 1968). "The Solar Constant Based on New Spectral Irradiance Data from 310 to 530 Nanometers". Journal of Applied Meteorology. 7 (4): 635–644.
  3. ↑ Mims III, Forest M. (2012). Hawaii's Mauna Loa Observatory: Fifty Years of Monitoring the Atmosphere. University of Hawaii Press. pp. 91–125. ISBN 978-0-8248-3431-9.
  4. ↑ "Mauna Loa Solar Observatory". mlso.hao.ucar.edu. Retrieved July 4, 2009.
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