Measurements at the Mauna Loa Observatory stopped after the 2022 eruption of the Mauna Loa volcano, when lava flow crossed the access road and took out power lines to the facility. The observatory remains inaccessible by vehicle and without power from the local utility company.
Observatory staff has established limited solar power in four observatory buildings and restored approximately 33 percent of the measurements onsite, including the Global Monitoring Laboratory and Scripps critical CO2 records and other atmospheric measurements.
Media can contact: Theo Stein (303) 819-7409 (theo.stein@noaa.gov) or Karin Vergoth 303-632-6413 (karin.vergoth@noaa.gov)
The Hilo office is the base of operations where the administration, development of instruments, data analyisis is done.
Mauna Loa Observatory's base of operations is located in the Kilauea Financal Plaza located at 1437 Kilauea Ave. #102.
The Hilo facility has a chemistry lab to analyze rain water and projects for the EPA.
An optics lab is used for development and testing of new lidar systems.
The electronics shop is used to build, and repair various types of equipment.
The computer lab is used to monitor the observatory's network. Computer repairs are done here also.
Loading bay and shop is used to store flasks, tanks and other large items received. It contains shop equipment for wood and metal work.