More than two years after road access and electrical power to the Mauna Loa Observatory was cut off by lava flows, NOAA staff continue to make critical measurements of the atmosphere and other environmental variables at the remote site.
In 2023, observatory staff installed solar panels at the site and resumed some measurements, including the independent carbon dioxide monitoring programs run by the Global Monitoring Laboratory and Scripps Institution of Oceanography, as well as other atmospheric measurements.
Construction of a temporary road to access the observatory site is anticipated to begin in summer 2025.
Media can contact: Theo Stein (303) 819-7409 (theo.stein@noaa.gov)
Organization(s):
United States National Science Foundation (NSF)
Drexel University (DU)
What does this program measure?
Aerosol, Water Vapor, UV-A (Ultra-Violet-A)
How does this program work?
Sunphotometers and UV data loggers are brought and operated by Forrest Mims. Forrest will do all observations which consist of: 1) morning Langley calibrations of GLOBE sun photometers and infrared hygrometers; 2) UV-A (376 nm) data logged observations; 3) miscellaneous solar observations.
Why is this research important?
In order to perform calibrations of GLOBE’s handheld sunphotometers.
Are there any trends in the data?
How does this program fit into the big picture?
What is it's role in global climate change?
Comments and References
DISCLAIMER:
This material is based upon work supported by the National Science Foundation. Any opinions, findings, and conclusions or recommendations expressed in this material are the opinions of the author(s) and do not necessarily reflect the views of the National Science Foundation.
Lead Investigator(s):
Dr. David Brooks (DU) ,
215-895-6821
Forrest Mims
830-372-0548
MLO Contact(s):
Dr. John E. Barnes
808-933-6965 (x222)
Darryl Kuniyuki
808-933-6965 (x236)
Web Site(s)
http://www.pages.drexel.edu/~brooksdr/DRB_ web_page/index.htm
http://www.globe.gov/globe_flash.html
http://www.forrestmims.org