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):
National
Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA), Earth System Research Laboratory (ESRL)
Network For the Detection of Atmospheric Composition Change
(NDACC)
National Institute of Water and Atmospheric Research (NIWA)What does this program measure?
The program measures Nitrogen Dioxide (NO2), including NO2 90° slant column density data, from Mauna Loa Observatory.
How does this program work?
The NO2 monitor uses a single grating monochromator to measure the zenith skylight between 450 nm and 490 nm, with a resolution of about 1 nm. Scans are made under computer control during early and late morning, and a difference method is used to retrieve NO2 concentration using known absorption lines of the gas. By using scans from various times during the morning it is possible to obtain a profile of NO2.
Why is this research important?
It is important to continuously monitor stratospheric NO2 at MLO.
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
Lead Investigator(s):
Paul V. Johnston (NIWA)
011-643-440-0429
MLO Contact(s):
Paul Fukumura
808-933-6965 (x223)
Dr. John E. Barnes
808-933-6965 (x222)
Web Site(s)
www.niwa.co.nz
gml.noaa.gov/grad/uv.html
Date Started
July 9, 1996
Related Programs
Photographs:
