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)
University of California, Davis
Fine particle (PM-2.5) mass and elemental concentrations, in ug/m3
A multi-filter sampling system, the UC-DAVIS IMPROVE system is used for long term trend study. Fine particles are captured on filters after passing through a size-selective inlet to remove large particles. Specifically, one set of filters take the samples continuously and the other set takes samples only during times when down slope flow is expected. Particles >2.5 micrometers are excluded from the collected sample by passing the sample air stream through a cyclone separator. Each filter operates over a three day period. Filters are changed weekly. The filters are shipped to a laboratory where they are weighed and are then subjected to elemental analysis. Special studies involve rotating drum impactors (size, time, elemental compost ion) and HI-Vol filters (isotopes, chemistry).
To determine the diurnal (daily) behavior and long term trends of high elevation, global background fine particle concentrations.
The purpose of this project is to obtain ambient atmospheric fine particle concentration data for size, time, and composition at MLO and to compare this data with similar samples from other remote Hawaiian and mainland locations, especially Asia. We are planning to use the MLO IMPROVE data to evaluate the long term changes in the output of Asian pollutants, since MLO is so closely coupled to Asia each Spring and Summer.
These measurements provide insight into global background fine particle concentrations at high elevation in the mid-Pacific. Special emphasis is placed on those factors which affect radiative climate forcing and visibility. High time resolved aerosol data are then compared to standard MLO gas and optical data.
Dr. Charles E. McDade
530-752-7119
Mike Brown
530-754-9741
Trevor Kaplan
808-933-6965 (x226)
Paul Fukumura
808-933-6965 (x223)
http://vista.cira.colostate.edu/improve
1998